by Reade Fenner and Emily Siansky ‘22

The best part about any concert is the anticipation, the excitement. From the moment the lights go off to when the performer walks on stage, there is a certain buzz in the air that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. Once Louis Tomlinson’s set began on February 10, vivid red lights and heavy fog filled The Anthem. The audience of teenagers and young adults, with a few parents tagging along as chaperones, hummed with excitement to see Tomlinson perform live. 

Tomlinson is a member of 2010s boy band One Direction. In 2016, the band took a prolonged hiatus, and since then each of the former members have pursued musical careers as solo artists.  

Donning his typical casual attire of a soccer jersey and jeans, Tomlinson’s performance did not disappoint. The setlist consisted mostly of Tomlinson’s first and only album Walls. However, he mixed in two covers, “Beautiful War” originally sung by the band Kings of Leon, and “7” by modern indie rock band Catfish And The Bottlemen. Tomlinson also revisited his own roots and performed “Drag Me Down” and “Little Black Dress,” two One Direction hits. 

A highlight of the show was Tomlinson’s performance of “Copy of a Copy of a Copy,” a song first debuted during his livestream performance in December of 2020. Despite being unreleased, the tune has quickly become a fan favorite, made evident by the perfectly memorized lyrics that the audience shouted back at the stage.

“Only the Brave,” a favorite among Tomlinson’s LGBTQ+ fans that he also performed in his encore, stood out. A sea of pride flags surfaced in the audience and waved proudly for the entirety of the song as the fans shouted the lyrics passionately.

A cover of One Direction’s “Through the Dark” soon followed, and Tomlinson’s upbeat hit “Kill My Mind” rounded out the encore and concluded the show. 

Unfortunately, Tomlinson was forced to stop his show twice as he saw people collapsing or looking ill, likely due to dehydration. Working closely with security, Tomlinson ensured everyone was able to get water if needed. He also attempted to control the crowd by leading a motion to step back so the densely packed audience got more room.

In spite of the health scares, Tomlinson’s mix of his own music, covers, and One Direction hits created a fun and energetic atmosphere. Everyone at the show was on their feet, including those with seats, dancing along and belting the songs they know and love. 

Grade: A