83 shows. 22 countries. 1 tour. Since June, Harry Styles has toured non-stop following the celebrated release of his third studio album, Harry’s House. On Oct. 8, Styles settled into his new home at the United Center, bringing his retro-rock sound to Chicago fans for six sold-out shows.
I heard nothing but rave reviews from die-hard fans and casual listeners alike, so I was ecstatic to see what all the hype was about. It is safe to say that my first time at “Love on Tour” did not disappoint.
As my trusted concert companion Lindsay and I trekked to the seemingly-never ending line at the doors, we gushed over the range of the fans’ fashion. From monochrome leather jumpsuits and shimmering tulle dresses to neon statement pants and amazingly hand painted jean jackets, fans truly went all out. The real stars of the show, however, were the thousands of feather boas scattered across every inch of the venue. Let’s take a moment of silence for the maintenance staff who had to clean up all those feathers at the end of the night!
Walking in, we soon realized that this was not just a concert; it was an experience. With colorful balloon walls, dedicated photo stations and souvenir puzzle pieces for fans, love shone through in the little details. Possibly my favorite element was the installation of six phone booths throughout the stadium where fans could record messages for Harry, with the chance of them ending up on a vinyl record gifted him at the end of his Chicago residency. (Harry, if you’re reading this, I’m so sorry I accidentally called you “Taylor” at the beginning of my message. I was simply manifesting a feature from you on Midnights!).
As the opener for the night, British pop star Jessie Ware absolutely smashed it! Her powerful voice left me speechless, and her nostalgic disco-inspired sound was the perfect primer for Love on Tour. Ware is a total pro; she commands the stage in a way that is so refreshing. Her performances of “Free Yourself” and “Ooh La La” had the audience on our feet, and I’ve already added her tracks to my essential pump-up playlist.
Finally, after much anticipation, the crowd erupted in cheers as Harry rose up onto the stage, sparkling head-to-toe in a sequined red and blue chevron suit. Kicking off the show with “Daydreaming,” Styles and his band filled the arena with sheer joy. Fresh from my screening of “Don’t Worry Darling,” seeing Styles in person was genuinely one of the most surreal moments of my life. His stage presence is killer, and his engagement with the crowd makes you feel like you’re simply jamming out with a friend. You can tell that he’s honestly having the time of his life, which is super refreshing to see from your favorite artist! Personal favorite moments of the night included singing “Happy Birthday” to a father chaperoning his daughter in the pit (Father of the year, am I right?), his encore performance of “Kiwi” (the best track on HS1), and watching the gentleman sitting next to me try to look up Harry’s edgy re-imagining of “What Makes You Beautiful” on Shazam.
As the show came to a close, I started to understand what made this tour so incredibly special for so many people. Being surrounded by nearly 24 thousand people screaming the same lyrics as you and feeling fully accepted is something truly magical. It has been years since I’ve been in a venue so massive due to the pandemic, and this was a perfect beginning to my impending live music addiction. With “Love on Tour” in full swing, Harry has truly cemented himself as one of the biggest stars of our generation, and I’m so thankful for the chance to spend a night at Harry’s House.