Harry Styles, a worldwide phenomenon, has performed across many stages. Currently, he’s in the middle of a concert residency at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City. I was lucky enough to attend night 17 of his residency, which was on Oct. 2. This was my first time attending one of his concerts, and I can confidently say it altered my brain chemistry. I understand the hype behind his performance now: he puts on a great show. Here’s my in-depth review of the Together, Together tour.
the buildup
I went to this concert with a close friend who’s an avid Styles fan. This was both our first time seeing him, and we were beyond excited. We took an afternoon train into the city from our hometown, which took just under two hours. It started to rain heavily while we ate dinner, but we were unbothered. Luckily, it stopped by the time we were done, and we successfully made it onto the subway to 34th Street.
Once we got there, we were beyond thrilled. We saw tons of fellow concertgoers waiting outside the iconic venue to take pictures with the illuminated sign. Everyone was so friendly and kind, making small talk and jokes while taking pictures for other fans. People were complimenting others and doing random acts of kindness. It was the most wholesome part of the event, which I appreciated immensely.
Once we entered the venue, we were blown away. Neither of us had been there before, so it was awesome to experience it together for the first time. It was incredibly nice, with Styles’ music playing as we walked through the main atrium. We bought merchandise, scanned our tickets, and made our way up the many escalators to get to our seats. At last, it was almost time for the concert to begin.
the concert itself
After taking many pictures and buying souvenirs, it was finally time to take our seats. We waited with anticipation, taking more pictures and admiring the fact that we were truly there. It was an incredibly surreal moment.
After a bit of waiting, the opening act, Jamie xx, came on promptly. He’s an English musician and DJ who performed various song remixes to set the scene. His DJ work was impressive, and the lighting changed the mood too; I got the feeling that I was at a rave instead of a concert. Be warned, however — his set was very loud, so if you’re attending and are sensitive to loud noises, bring earplugs!
After 50 minutes of jamming, it was time for Styles to take the stage. He came on immediately after Jamie xx, which I appreciated because fans didn’t have to wait an excessively long time for the main act. At first, the musicians were introduced, and they were met with excited applause. At last, Styles arrived on stage, and the crowd went crazy.
He performed many of his popular songs, such as “Watermelon Sugar” and “As It Was.” I sang, danced, screamed, and everything in between. My favorite part of the concert was toward the end, when Styles took a break from high-energy numbers and performed some slow songs in a more casual setting. After making the crowd temporarily somber, the energy amped up again for his final number, “Aperture.” The lighting was amazing, and the vibes were elite. It was the perfect way to wrap up an incredible concert. My friend and I had so much fun, and we were surprised when it was over; it went by so quickly!
reflection
Looking back, the show was incredible. I had an absolute blast. I’ve never sung and danced that much at a concert before. I thought about it the entire train ride home and continued to listen to his music the day after, while wishing I could relive the experience. We both had an amazing time and already can’t wait to see him again.
If you have the opportunity to see Styles, definitely take advantage of it. His concerts are a great time and are surrounded by awesome people. Even if you’re not a huge fan, his music appeals to many types of people, and just being in the environment alone is rejuvenating. I’m so excited for the day I can go to another concert like that!