Together, Together Tour: You Will Always Be Famous
Madison Square Garden. Harry Styles. Night 5. 25 more nights to go. Sometimes, leaving a concert is simple, almost mechanical, like a puzzle of logistics. Where is the nearest exit? How do I weave my way through the crowd? How will I get home? Other times, however, leaving is not about the minute details, but about meaning-making; you realize you cannot leave the concert because the concert wants to leave with you. On Sept. 4, I left MSG hungry for more, desperately wishing I had a ticket for the next night. While many fans, myself included, criticized Styles’s fourth studio album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, the show offered a revelation: this album was made to be performed live.
Having already attended two shows on Love on Tour, Styles’ last world tour, I had the highest of expectations for this show. Although I wasn’t the biggest fan of his release, Sept. 4 changed my mind. The theatricality of Styles’ performance was unlike anything I could have imagined, and his talent far exceeded that of any artist I’ve seen live before. Both Harry and his concertgoers possess a unique ability: being themselves. Upon entering MSG, the weight of its history is evident; the space has hosted countless NBA championships and legendary performers, and even served as a venue for a certain celebrity wedding. hold Ripe with this legacy, the venue hummed with excitement, evident through concertgoers’ crafty outfits incorporating Styles’ lyrics, fashion, and even previous album concepts.
The opener, Jamie XX, primed the crowd perfectly for Harry , turning MSG into a club. Right as the clock struck 8:55pm, Styles nonchalantly walked on stage in a dazzling cheetah print button up with flowy black trousers, leaving no intermission between the two acts.The setlist perfectly blended Styles’ new music with his past discography. During “Kiwi,” the bass, the flashing lights, the adoring fans, and Styles’s enthusiasm combined synergetically to leave the historic venue (literally) shaking. He utilized various techniques to keep the show engaging beyond just reciting his setlist, a difficult feat for someone performing for 30 nights in the same place. He played with the lights, spoke directly to the crowd, and used various vocal modifiers; it was clear that this show wasn’t just a job he had to get over with—he truly loved it. And the crowd could tell, too. Concertgoers danced and jumped all night. In one special engagement with the crowd, Harry even asked the audience to sing “Happy Birthday” to a deceitful fan who then, somewhat redemptively, clarified that her special day was actually coming up in a month. Ironically , Sept. 4 actually is my birthday. I wore a tie declaring this fact, and my birthday wishes came true as the loving fans around sang “Happy Birthday!” to me instead.
I left Styles’ show at MSG experiencing a full range of emotions: from gratitude to excitement and (paradoxically) immediate nostalgia. While my bank account paid the price (literally), the show was more than worth it, and I doubt anyone in the crowd would disagree. Somehow, even with MSG’s capacity nearing 20,000 people that night, Styles cultivated the crowd into a loving little community, connected by a deep and profound love for him and his music, a love so fervent it stole my voice the next day. Talk about being left speechless!
MSG Night 5, you, like Harry, will always be famous!
Rating: INDY
Alexandra Villasmil is a freshman in the CAS planning to study Government & Psychology.
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