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CONCERT REVIEW: Madison Square Garden Became Harry’s House
Harry Styles’ Love on Tour at Madison Square Garden (Photo: Sabrina Boyle)
By Madelyn Llanes
Fresh off his third album titled Harry’s House, Harry Styles is making his way around the world again, on yet another leg of his infamous Love on Tour. (Let’s just say, it’s a great name for a tour.) Styles recently closed out his 15-night residency at Madison Square Garden. Shows began on August 20th, 2022, and concluded on September 21st, 2022.
Fans from all over the world flew in to see him perform at the “World’s Most Famous Arena.” Over the years of playing at this arena, whether it be in his One Direction days or his solo days, Styles is now an established MSG mega act. And this year was one of his most special tours, a milestone in his career.
On his fifteenth and final night, Styles was awarded a personalized banner from The Garden. “Harry Styles 15 Consecutive Nights.” Not only was he brought to tears, but his audience, friends, and family were as well.
At the beginning of the show, those in the lower bowl seats and those in the general admission area were gifted boas (Harry Styles wore one once, and suddenly, it’s a staple piece at his shows, but it just adds to the fun). The boas were a must; if you were in the front row of general admission, MSG crew members ensured that the boas were being worn. If you did not have one, they gave you one. The crew told fans, “He wants to see you in them.” Attached to the boas were postcards that said, “Thank you for joining us at the history-making final show of Love on Tour, 2022. Tonight, we celebrate ‘15 Consecutive Nights at The Garden.’ Love, Madison Square Garden.”
Harry Styles (Photo: Sabrina Boyle)
Styles’ outfits were also a major talk of this residency. Styled by Harry Lambert, Styles came out on stage every night in some sort of a custom Gucci ensemble. Whether he wore a rainbow tracksuit, a denim cowboy getup, overalls, or a sparkly bedazzled set, everyone was in awe.. Fans who could not attend the shows would take to Twitter and ask their friends every night at 9 pm, “what color do you think he’s wearing?” It was like a game to some, but it was always fun to join. Some would even say that Styles has style.
Gayle King, CBS News journalist, had the lucky honors of presenting him with this very much deserving gift. She referred to him as “walking joy, walking happiness, walking love.”. That was enough to bring everyone to tears. After receiving this gift, he told the audience, “anytime that you come to Madison Square Garden and you see that, remember it’s because of you. That is ours. Thank you so, so much. All of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.”
If you are a Harry Styles fan, that night is a moment in history. Whether someone attended one show, all fifteen, or somewhere in between, whether they went alone or with friends, or were even dragged to the show regardless of being a fan or not, the room was filled with such unconditional love.
That night, Love on Tour created a whole new meaning.
In his song Matilda, Styles wrote the lyrics, “you can throw a party full of everyone you know, you can start a family who will always show you love.” The friendships that are created at his concerts are friendships that will last forever. Some may even consider these new friends to be like family. People who met on Night 1 attended Night 15 together. There is an unbreakable bond and a deep love that they share.
In 2019, Styles inducted Stevie Nicks into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He described her as “a beacon to all of us. Whenever you hear her voice, life gets a little bit better. When she sings, the world is hers, and it is yours. She is everything you’ve ever wanted in a lady, in a lover, in a friend.”
If you ask any Harry Styles fan to describe him, they would say the same thing. Some would even call him their Stevie.
Madison Square Garden became not only Harry’s House but a home to so many.
