5 Reasons to See Harry Styles’ “Love on Tour 2022”

Abby Jones
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The post 5 Reasons to See Harry Styles’ “Love on Tour 2022” appeared first on Consequence.

Harry Styles’ US “Love on Tour 2022” is a bit of a misnomer. Rather than a comprehensive trek across the country, the pop phenom is hosting residencies in New York City, Austin, Chicago, and Los Angeles (get tickets here). Logistically speaking, it’s a clever idea for the Styles crew — but it also testifies to the singer’s star power. What other living star under the age of 30 would be able to successfully schedule 15 nights at the world’s most famous arena?

We had the pleasure of catching Styles’ opening night on Saturday, August 20th at Madison Square Garden in support of his third solo album Harry’s House. And though wordplay inspired by the album title is probably pretty stale at this point, the show did feel like being welcomed into one of the most fun house parties you’ve ever been to. He’s a fantastic host while he’s setting the night’s cheerful mood, singing happy birthday to a lucky fan, or calling another fan’s ex-boyfriend from her phone. No, really. He did that.

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If you still need convincing on why you should go see “Love on Tour 2022” this year, here’s just five of many reasons why it’ll be a night to remember. (Grab tickets to see Styles live here.)

It’s Harry’s House, Indeed:

I wasn’t ever lucky enough to catch One Direction live in their heydey (translation: I was too insufferable to listen to anything that wasn’t covered by indie blogs), but I can only imagine that years of touring with one of history’s most important boybands gives Styles a leg up in terms of his stage presence. But still — his stage presence is really spectacular.

At Madison Square Garden, Styles’ stage was centered in the arena rather than fixed to one end. Not only did this make the seats feel a bit like like they were lining the edge of one of those sunken conversation pits from the ’70s, but the retro-indebted pop star was able to engage with more of the crowd, whether he was leading a fist bump to “Daydreaming” or conducting a sing-along to “Watermelon Sugar.” Somehow, Styles is able to make each person of the 20,000-capacity venue feel seen.

Though Styles doesn’t play any instrument himself aside for some simple guitar strums during “Matilda,” his seemingly infallible energy during the set’s 90 minutes is something to write home about.

He Knows How to Curate the Perfect Pregame:

Throughout his solo career, Styles has brought along a surprisingly diverse crop of openers on the road, ranging from then-up-and-comers like King Princess to established veterans like Jenny Lewis. Whether you’re familiar with them or you’re a new fan, pretty much all of Styles’ supporting acts have left a huge mark on the pop music world — and the supporting act for this tour is no exception.

Though the name might be new to you, Dev Hynes — aka the alt-R&B auteur Blood Orange — is seemingly everywhere, having worked with artists like Mariah Carey, Kylie Minogue, Carly Rae Jepsen, Sky Ferriera, and many, many more. Though the funk-pop he makes as Blood Orange is much more mellow than your typical Styles tune, his 40-minute set is a perfect precedent to get you warmed up — like the cocktails you make with your friends at home right before calling the Uber.

Each city on “Love on Tour 2022” features a different opener, but with Styles’ track record, each one is bound to become a new favorite of yours if they aren’t already.

I’d Like to Introduce the Band:

One of the most unforgettable moments of Styles’ live show actually had little to do with Styles himself: After a horn section emerged onstage for “Cinema,” a brief interpolation of The Village People’s “YMCA” transitioned seamlessly into the triumphant fanfare of “Music for a Sushi Restaurant.” It’s surely no easy feat to back up one of the defining artists of a generation, but where most major pop stars appear to work separately from their backing band, Styles makes sure his gets the spotlight they deserve.

Another added benefit of his 360 stage setup is that his band is set right in the middle; even as the singer is frolicking across the stadium, it’s impossible to not keep an eye on the musicians holding it down. From percussionist Pauli Lovejoy’s crowd-favorite high-kicks to drummer Sarah Jones’ infallible leadership, the band easily feels just as important as the show’s star. It only further testifies what many of us could tell already about that 16-year-old, baby-faced Styles who auditioned for The X Factor: He’s really just in this for the love of the music.

There’s Something for the Directioners:

Immediately after Blood Orange wrapped up their opening set and left the stage, the audience screeched so loudly you would’ve thought Styles had decided to jump on early. In fact, the catalyst of such a cacophony was that One Direction’s 2013 single “Best Song Ever” had found its way onto the pre-show playlist. Especially considering its satirical music video starred Styles as a sheepish music executive who fails to earn 1D’s respect, hearing it blasted just before a solo headlining show feels like a full-circle moment.

Styles has mastered the art of acknowledging his boyband roots gracefully. He doesn’t deny that his astronomical success likely wouldn’t have happened with them, but he also doesn’t show any need to prove he’s better than them. In addition to nailing a revved-up cover of “What Makes You Beautiful,” Styles also went on to thank those who’ve supported him, whether they jumped on the bandwagon “one year, five years, or 12 years” ago. The latter increment all but explicitly references One Direction’s 2010 formation, and it’s heartwarming to feel Styles’ appreciation.

It’s Just a Lot of Fun:

Whether you’re a tween who was still in diapers when One Direction debuted, a 20-something woman who grew up alongside Styles, or a guardian chaperoning: A Harry Styles concert is just really, really fun for everyone there. You can sense how much Styles loves performing on his own terms, and his contagious joy spreads faster than COVID (sorry).

Jokes aside — the live music industry has obviously suffered heavily over the past two years. And since its post-pandemic return, festivals have often felt treacherous, and some stars have struggled mentally making a comeback with touring. But when Styles catches a cowboy hat thrown to him by a fan in the pit, puts it on, and then skips around the stage gleefully, it’s clear how much happiness this brings him. It’s impossible not to feel a similar rush yourself.

Styles’ MSG run continues through Wednesday, Sept. 21st, then heads to Austin, Texas on September 25th. Tickets for the rest of the tour are available here.

Setlist:

Daydreaming
Golden
Adore You
Daylight
Keep Driving
Matilda
Little Freak
Satellite
Happy Birthday to You
Cinema
Music for a Sushi Restaurant
Treat People With Kindness
What Makes You Beautiful
Late Night Talking
Watermelon Sugar
Love of My Life

Encore:

Sign of the Times
As It Was
Kiwi

5 Reasons to See Harry Styles’ “Love on Tour 2022”
Abby Jones

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