Words can hardly describe the emotions that raced through my mind when I received notice that I was granted clearance to take pictures directly in front of the stage at One Direction’s Atlanta concert on June 26th. Euphoria hit me like a tsunami, and although it was mixed with anxiety of never having taken professional pictures before, I couldn’t shake the excitement that coursed through my veins once I realized I’d be just feet away from my favorite band for the first few songs!
Hoards of girls, the majority between the ages of 12 and 16, lined up outside the venue in the hopes of seeing the band before their performance.
The four-hour drive to the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia felt extremely long and was only capped by a six-hour wait until show time. Girls began lining up at ten that morning, each hoping to catch a glimpse of Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. As time clicked closer to the concert, the hysteria grew to near insanity, with girls running and screaming as if their lives depended on it if someone mentioned seeing one of the boys through the windows of the lobby, and even trying to sneak down to the area where their multiple tour buses were parked. Louis Tomlinson’s student-model girlfriend Eleanor Calder joined the boys in Atlanta for the performance, and as she exited the venue and prepared to leave in a blacked-out sedan prior to show time, mass amounts of girls were screaming her name and begging for her attention. And she’s just the supportive girlfriend!
Manika performing with her backup dancers
At last, the doors opened and it was almost time for the concert to begin! I checked in, obtained my green photo pass adorned with a picture of the band, and prepared to shoot the first opening act. Manika, a little known Filipino-American singer-songwriter, took the stage first, dressed in an oversized tutu with a pair of fishnet clad dancers to back her up. While her performance was full of energy and life, her vocals fell flat and her lyrics left little to be desired. Her cover of Justin Bieber’s “Baby” was better vocally than her original songs, but still not up to par with some of today’s major pop stars.
British musician Olly Murs performing one of his UK Singles
British artist Olly Murs, who, like the band, is an X Factor alum, took the stage and completely wowed the sold-out arena. His vocals were crisp and clear, and he didn’t take himself too seriously at all. He was fun-loving, dancing up a storm all around the stage and preparing the enthusiastic fans for the main event. The only downfall of Olly’s performance was when he encouraged the crowd to join him in singing Nelly’s “Hot In Herre”. Normally a good cover of such a popular song wouldn’t bother me, but hearing groups of pre-teen girls scream “I Wanna Take My Clothes Off!” was a little outrageous. But he soon redeemed himself with a great rendition of his first U.S. single, Heart Skips a Beat.
Mania really set in as the roadies broke down Olly’s set and prepared the stage for One Direction. The screaming reached a previously unprecedented level as the lights dimmed and the screen lit up with a video montage of the five boys. The lights shut off completely and when they were raised, the band ran onto the stage with as much energy as every fan in the room. They opened the show with a UK release single Na Na Na, and sounded almost exactly like the track itself. What surprised me the most was their reaction upon taking in the crowd; Niall, Harry, and Louis were closest to me, and they looked out at their 13,000 fans with an expression of shock-and-awe. These boys perform to crowds about this size most every night, and yet it seemed like they’ve never been in that position before. The look in their eyes solidified, at least for me, that they are incredibly genuine when they say that they don’t take a single minute of their stardom and increasing fame for granted.
As they moved into their second song, a bonus track from the deluxe edition of Up All Night called Stand Up, the boys chatted with the crowd as if they were talking with a group of friends. The harmonies were once again spot-on, and although slightly drowned out by the legions of screaming fans, the boys once again sounded just as they do on the album. They grouped into their formations and performed as a band, but managed to hold onto their individuality as they moved around the stage. As the boys transitioned into their third song “I Wish” (my personal favorite!), they set the standard for the rest of the show. They were cute and endearing while performing the ballad, and by delivering the song with a slower pace they really showcased their vocal talents.
Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne
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The quintet made their way through a set list of 13 original songs, sprinkled in with various covers here and there. The band, Niall especially, commented several times on how Atlanta was by the far the loudest audience they’ve performed to in the U.S. —Niall even had to restart his cover of Gym Class Hero’s Stereo Hearts because he couldn’t hear himself singing and wasn’t sure if he was in the right key! But he solved the technical problems and delivered the song with his smooth voice as if nothing went wrong in the first place. As a matter of fact, if Niall hadn’t said anything it would’ve been impossible to tell that they were having issues with the sound. Each song was performed as much on key as the last, at times sounding even better than that of the album. They each took risks in their vocal performances, most of the time deviating from the original versions and adding in extra flair. Zayn took to showcasing his superb range by becoming adventurous during his solo in Tell Me a Lie, while Liam and Harry stole the show with the purity of their young voices. Niall and Louis delivered performances much stronger than those on the album, wowing the crowd with their unique tones and full sound. Each member supported his mates with powerful and well-sung harmonies, really showing why One Direction is as popular as they are.
Niall Horan, Harry Styles, and Liam Payne
The major difference between One Direction and their boy band counterparts is that they don’t dance. They do have choreographed formations and certain places to hold during the show, but other than it is really up to them. They kept their performances fresh and entertaining with silly lyric changes on behalf of Harry Styles and Zayn Malik, and entertained the audience by embracing their boyish tendencies to mess with one another during the show. They also try to get the audience involved as much as possible. In the middle of the show, the band takes to their Twitter account and picks out their favorite requests from the fans. The process makes every show unique and allows the fans to see the crazy fun side of the boys’ personality. One of the segment’s funniest moments featured the boys doing their best impressions of one another. Harry showed off his impeccable Irish accent while pretending to be Niall, while Zayn and Louis went old school in their impressions of one another by making references to the video diaries they made during their time on The X Factor. Perhaps the most memorable moment was when a fan asked the band to sing a song in remembrance of Michael Jackson. One Direction delivered a beautiful cover of the first half of Man in the Mirror, leaving the audience wanting to hear the rest.
Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik
Later on in the show, the band covered Kings of Leon’s Use Somebody, showcasing the little heard voice of Louis Tomlinson. Add in the sultriness of Harry Styles’ raspy vocal quality and their rendition had the crowd screaming louder than usual. The boys became more playful with one another as the show came to a close, acting more like they were the only five people in the room. Their so-called “bromances” are incredibly endearing, but at times I found myself more concentrated on what they were doing to distract each other and not as much on the performance at hand. During Harry’s infamous solo just before the final chorus of What Makes You Beautiful, the other four members took to messing with his clothes and trying to throw him off in his performance. While it was very cute and entertaining, I had a hard time focusing on enjoying the Harry’s moment in the solo-spotlight in the second-to-last song of the night. Their friendships were put on display several times throughout the night, as they occasionally leaned over and whispered to one another, and even gave signs of encouragement after one of them performed really well. It further demonstrated that the façade the project to the world is as genuine as it can be, making them even more appealing and easier to love!
Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, and Zayn Malik
Say what you want about One Direction, but no one can deny that their voices are exceptional for their young age. At times their banter with the audience was clichĂ©, but it must be remembered that they haven’t even been a band for two years. It takes time and practice to become a powerhouse performer and it seems that these boys are definitely on that track. It was clear that they are still trying to find their footing after becoming international superstars so rapidly, but they most definitely did not disappoint their fans. One Direction rocked the house on their first visit to Atlanta and had me leaving the arena awestruck (and as an avid concert-goer, I have many past experiences to go off of!). One thing is for sure—they are well on their way to even greater superstardom, and the five boys of One Direction are stealing the hearts of girls everywhere on their journey to the top!
* All pictures are original and courtesy of Alexis Brost.