Harry Styles performed in London on Tuesday, during an intense heatwave sweeping Western Europe that left Wembley Stadium packed with fans waving fans and hand-held coolers. The reviewer noted that even before Styles appeared in his shorts, the crowd was already soaked, and the temperature made the show feel unusually oppressive.
The concert is part of Styles’ current tour built around the more club-oriented sound of his latest album, and the review says he has reshaped that material into a more expansive live experience. Songs such as "Are You Listening Yet," "Ready, Steady, Go" and "Pop" were driven by constant disco rhythms and a strong focus on movement, with Styles running, dancing and pacing the catwalks for most of the set. "Watermelon Sugar" was moved to the opening of the show, and the band’s energetic playing gave the songs more force than on the studio versions.
The performance also leaned heavily on musical references and quotations. The set included a sample from Underworld’s "Born Sleepy" in "Taste Back," a Gorillaz-style moment in "Dare," a line from Talking Heads’ "This Must Be the Place" in "Treat People With Kindness," a nod to Paul Simon’s "You Can Call Me Al," keyboard textures evoking Kraftwerk, echoes of David Bowie and Nile Rodgers in "Dance No More," and a late quote from the late David Hockney, who said, "Clearly art is meant to be shared."
The audience, estimated at 90,000, was treated to Styles’ usual fan engagement, including constant waving and reading of signs. One fan handed him a brown envelope and told him, "I wrote my theology paper about you," prompting Styles to promise he would read it. He also used key moments, including "Fine Line" and the lead single "Aperture," to urge the crowd to say yes to new experiences and embrace the show’s theme of togetherness.
