Over fall break, I had the absolute privilege of seeing Harry Styles live in concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City for night 21 of his Together, Together tour. The show elicited a plethora of emotions from fans (including myself) that ranged from feeling like you’re attending a rave, feeling the bass all the way in your throat, to borderline questioning why you came because you can feel the tears forming more every second.
After an opening set from musician and DJ Jamie xx, Harry and his band made an electric entrance to “Dance No More,” an upbeat song off of his newest album, “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.” He moved through a setlist that was made up of tracks predominantly off of the new album as well as his 2022 album, “Harry’s House.” For long-time fans, however, he made sure to include popular tracks such as “Carolina”, “Kiwi”, “Adore You”, and “Watermelon Sugar.” Despite some note changes in “Carolina” and “Kiwi” that I didn’t enjoy quite as much as the original versions, I feel that his track list was curated exactly as it should have been for this tour. He started with his more energetic work, progressively moving into more “chill” songs, and eventually leading his fans to some of his melancholic—or outright heartbreaking— songs such as “Coming Up Roses”, “Sign of the Times”, and a subdued version of “Carla’s Song.”
Something that Harry has always been good at throughout his solo career is consistent interaction with his band members, showcasing his genuine relationships with them, and his genuine enjoyment of performance. Knowing that the person or people onstage at a concert are enjoying themselves makes it that much easier for audience members to relax and enjoy the show too. The ease at which I could speak to all of the people around me, and become fast friends with, is a testament to the comfort that these concerts create for fans.
One thing I particularly appreciate about this tour, especially as a dancer myself, is the use of back-up dancers Aysia Ianiero and Rubia Serena. The two bring a wonderful energy to the stage, filling the room with confidence and complimenting Harry’s performance beautifully. They make their way around the circular stage design throughout each song to focus their energy on different sides of the arena, helping to pump up audience members from every angle. They are able to keep fans engaged and catch people’s attention, while still moving in harmony with the band and Harry’s own movements and dances.
Fittingly, Harry’s set ended with his single “Aperture”, also off of his newest album. In the chorus of the song, the lyrics “we belong together” repeat themselves several times, and Harry even has each side of the arena scream these lyrics on their own. In a room full of people who share a love for the artist onstage, being able to shout these lyrics amongst one another really does make you feel like you belong together in some way or another.
Even in a venue as large as Madison Square Garden, which holds roughly 20,000 people, Harry has a way of turning this overwhelmingly vast space into something surprisingly familiar. Two hours of songs that, sure, are just as easily streamed on Spotify (without the $300+ sticker price) are turned into an irreplaceable night of community, love, and treasured togetherness.