The man, myth and legend, Mr Harry Styles has finally returned to Melbourne.
Following the cancellation of his highly anticipated 2020 Australian tour, Harry Styles: Love On Tour has finally made it down under, with shows in Perth, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Sydney.
From humble beginnings as a bakery assistant, to topping the charts as an internationally renowned boy band member, and now a record-breaking solo artist, Harry has continued to jump from strength to strength, and his fan base has only gotten stronger. Now fresh from his successful nights at the Grammys and Brit Awards, Harry has found his way to Melbourne, to front a highly energetic crowd.
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In fact, Harry Mania has been sweeping Melbourne for the best part of a week. Stores in Melbourne and regional Victoria alike have been selling out of feather boas and cowboy hats, and fans looking to stock up on their official tour merch have been lining up for hours on end despite the hot conditions.
On Friday the 24th of February, Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium became Harry’s House. The large-scale arena was filled with a sea of retro outfits, boas, and sequins galore. British indie rock band, Wet Leg, kicked off the night, performing tracks such as Supermarket and Chaise Longue. Harry has previously covered the band’s track Wet Dream, a song that Wet Leg performed on Friday night.
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The pure excitement of the crowd when Harry entered the stage was something that had to be witnessed. For Melbourne’s first night, Harry wore a striped and sequined shirt with pink pants, and nail polish that is assumed to be of his own brand, Pleasing.
Harry encouraged everyone there to be whoever it was they had always wanted to be that night, and that was a message taken swiftly on board by those in attendance. Throughout, people of all ages and genders were up on their feet, dancing like no-one was watching, and singing each song with everything they had. Comfortable shoes are a must for Harry’s shows, as you will be standing, if not dancing, for the duration.
Fitting in well to life in Australia, Harry graciously donned a classic straw Bunnings hat momentarily, after it was thrown on stage by a fan. Although he would not know the cultural significance of wearing this Aussie icon, the crowd sure did, and it was a gesture well-received. Harry and his band entertained the crowd for an hour and a half, with well-known tracks from his prior albums such as Watermelon Sugar, Kiwi and Sign of the Times, and newer songs from Harry’s House, such as Little Freak, As It Was, and Keep Driving. While unreleased favourite Medicine was unfortunately absent from the set-list, the inclusion of What Makes You Beautiful brought the nostalgia back for those who went with him through the 1D days.
I was happy to see that he has adopted wireless mics, at least for parts of the shows, allowing him to pull off his signature dance moves and run laps of the stage without getting himself tangled. His Melbourne show saw him doing high kicks with percussionist Pauli, skipping along the outer stage, and taking every opportunity to bust a move in a way that only he can.
@niallerfriend Harry’s life is at risk. If this man doesn’t get a wireless microphone istg- #harrystyleslot #harrystyles #harrystylesedit #onedirection #fypシ ♬ original sound – Niallerfriend
Harry’s appreciation for the crowd was abundantly clear and he took every opportunity to thank them for their support, whether they’ve been on board for 12 years or are new fans. It is wonderful to see that Harry, despite his irrefutable successes, does not take his position for granted.
From disco music to tear-jerking ballads, and with enthusiastic Auslan interpreters onsite, HSLOT is a concert experience that anyone can enjoy.
With a performance like Harry’s, it’s hard not to be a fan.
Tickets to the remaining HSLOT shows can be found here.
