If you’ve been on Instagram at all lately, you’ve likely seen dozens of posts from the Harry Styles concert. Harry Styles’ Love on Tour was originally announced at the end of 2019, but due to COVID, many have been anxiously holding onto their tickets for the last 2 years. Needless to say, the wait was definitely worth it. On Monday, October 25, Harry Styles finally came to Boston, playing at the TD Garden. The concert, true to its name, was like a huge celebration of love. Fans were decked out in vibrant colors, funky patterns, and feather boas, modeling the iconic fashion of the man himself, Harry Styles. The boa feathers littering the floor of the venue served as a testament to the lengths attendees went to fit the theme. Styles himself was wearing high-waisted light blue pants, a glittery white shirt, white heeled boots, and a pair of blue suspenders to complete the look.

Energy was running high in the arena even before Styles stepped onstage. Jenny Lewis, the opener, had fans waving their hands proudly in the air and swaying along. The pre-show playlist consisted of songs handpicked by Styles, many of which had the whole arena on their feet and singing their hearts out. During Olivia by One Direction and Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, the fans were singing even louder than the recording that was blasting. By the time Styles was about to come on stage, everyone was filled with adrenaline and anticipation. A voice recording of Charles Bukowski speaking about the relationship between style, danger, and art preceded Styles’ entrance on stage. The phrases were broken up by a clip from the vocals in the background of the song Golden, building before the first song of the concert. 

When Harry Styles appeared on stage, rising from the center, the noise was deafening in the arena. The golden lights flashing revealed the entire arena on their feet, jumping, and having the time of their lives. The two-year wait leading up to the concert just made the energy that much more electric. Everyone from the barricade in the pit to the top row of the nosebleeds was dancing. Styles, despite playing on a round stage in the center of the arena, moved around so frequently that everyone, no matter where they were sitting, felt seen. His band matched his energy well, especially fan-favorites Sarah Jones (drummer), Mitch Rowland (guitarist), and Pauli Lovejoy (percussionist). 

One of the highlights of the show was the song Treat People With Kindness, a song that was absolutely made to be performed live. There were rainbow lights being projected all over the arena and everyone was collectively jumping. In the pit, there were groups doing conga lines and line dancing. Styles has used Treat People With Kindness as his mantra for many years and it’s something that many fans have taken to heart. This made it all the more exciting to see live because the concert itself felt like the embodiment of kindness and love. 

The show closed out before the encore on a somber note with the song Fine Line, the closing song on the album Fine Line. Everyone held their flashlights up in the air which created a scene like a beautiful array of stars when combined with the purple lighting beaming through the arena. A blanket of silence came over the crowd, a stark contrast to the deafening roars that had defined the rest of the concert. Fans were just taking in the song; many were embracing friends, swaying, or simply observing the moment. It was the perfect way to close the concert, leaving not a dry eye in sight. The final lyric “we’ll be alright” felt especially poignant after the two-year wait that led up to the concert and the global events that defined it. It was a poetic way to end the concert, leaving all feeling reflective and hopeful.