Halsey saves best for last at KAABOO Del Mar

Halsey ended her private concert with a bang at the Music Box in Little Italy Thursday night. As the 23-year-old singer/songwriter belted out the lyrics to her more than 3-time platinum hit, Bad At Love, plumes of smoke erupted from on-stage cannons as the cozy confines of the downtown venue filled with confetti.

Lucky ticket holders, who also needed the prerequisite of being Chase Marriott Rewards members, were treated to an exclusive spectacle typically reserved for much bigger venues.

But the real fireworks were found when she performed on Friday evening on the Rolling Stone’s Sunset Cliffs stage at KAABOO Del Mar. 

The New Jersey-bred singer (born Ashley Frangipane) took the stage just a few minutes after her scheduled 6:25 p.m. start and didn’t waste any time making the most of her 90-minute allotment — which was timed perfectly with a gorgeous Del Mar sunset as a backdrop.

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Foo Fighters’ lead singer Dave Grohl performs with the band on the Sunset Cliffs Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Foo Fighters’ lead singer Dave Grohl performs with the band on the Sunset Cliffs Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Foo Fighters’ lead singer Dave Grohl performs with the band on the Sunset Cliffs Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Foo Fighters’ lead singer Dave Grohl performs with the band on the Sunset Cliffs Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Foo Fighters’ lead singer Dave Grohl and bassist Nate Mendel perform with the band on the Sunset Cliffs Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Foo Fighters’ guitarist Pat Smear performs with the band on the Sunset Cliffs Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Foo Fighters’ lead singer Dave Grohl performs with the band on the Sunset Cliffs Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Foo Fighters’ lead singer Dave Grohl performs with the band on the Sunset Cliffs Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Foo Fighters’ lead singer Dave Grohl performs with the band on the Sunset Cliffs Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Foo Fighters perform on the Sunset Cliffs Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Foo Fighters’ lead singer Dave Grohl performs with the band on the Sunset Cliffs Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Foo Fighters’ lead singer Dave Grohl performs with the band on the Sunset Cliffs Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Post Malone performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Post Malone performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Post Malone performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Post Malone performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Blondie performs on the Trestles stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. The sun sets over KAABOO Del Mar as attendees make their way towards the Sunset Cliffs Stage to watch Halsey perform on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. A hot air balloon rises from the Del Mar racetrack to give KAABOO attendees a ride near sunset on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Street performers with costumes made out of mirrors pose for photos with KAABOO Del Mar attendees on Friday, September 14th, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Gucci Mane performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Gucci Mane performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Gucci Mane performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Gucci Mane performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Gucci Mane performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Gucci Mane performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Gucci Mane performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Fans cheer as Gucci Mane performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Nelly performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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Nelly performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14, 2018.SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Nelly performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Nelly performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Nelly performs on the Grandview Stage at KAABOO Del Mar on Friday, September 14, 2018. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Rachelle Keller sits on the shoulders of Ben Harris, both from San Diego, as they cheer on Nelly at the Grandview Stage on Friday, September 14th, 2018 at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Nelly fans cheer as the as he performs on the Grandview stage on Friday, September 14th, 2018 at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

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SAN DIEGO, September 14th, 2018 | 2018 KAABOO Del Mar music festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. Nelly fans cheer as the as he performs on the Grandview stage on Friday, September 14th, 2018 at KAABOO Del Mar. Photo by Chadd Cady  (Chadd Cady)

Sporting a red-plaid crop-top, black jeans adorned with patches, and a pair of Nike high-tops, Halsey initially appeared in silhouette behind a gigantic, white, on-stage drape before jumping straight into Eyes Closed from her 2017 sophomore record, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom.

The album debuted at the top spot on the Billboard 200 charts and the young singer worked the stage like an artist who knows what it feels like to be number one. She moved from one side to the other, flipping her wireless mic with dexterity as she danced, squatted and sang a solid collection of songs from her latest release, as well as her 2015 debut studio album, Badlands.

“Are you tired?” she asked the sprawling crowd mid-song at one point after challenging them to jump along to a chorus. “Say noooooo!” she goaded the thousands of fans before returning to her lively, hit-filled performance.    

The short-haired chanteuse ripped through hits like Gasoline, Castle, Now or Never, I Can Put On a Show, Strangers, Roman Holiday, Bad At Love, and at one point during the performance gave a shout out to the LGBT community.

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

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Day 1 of KAABOO Del Mar was filled with the likes of chef Richard Blais on the Palate stage and the festival’s first sold-out crowd.  (Arlene Ibarra)

But the undisputed highlight of the set was when on-again, off-again boyfriend G-Eazy joined Halsey on stage for a rendition of Him & I from his 2017 album, The Beautiful and the Damned. The pair embraced at the end of their hit duet, leading the crowd to believe that it is definitely “on-again.”

And like so many unpredictable KAABOO moments, the singer let everyone know that this was “the last show (she’s) playing in America for a long, long time.” Halsey said she was going to spend the upcoming months “working on the next album.”

But for fans who were there on Friday night, the wait will luckily be just a bit shorter.

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