Louis Tomlinson absolutely brought the energy to the banks of the Cuyahoga River at Jacobs Pavilion, on July 20.
His introduction to the concert started with lasers illustrating a large question mark on the screen of the venue, a symbol for his latest tour and album. The album is named ‘How Did I Get Here?’ The tour, aptly dubbed “How Did We Get Here?” sticks with fans as a way to show how he and his fans have grown together!
Starting off his set with “Lemonade” was definitely a great choice! He released thousands of pieces of confetti, covering the entire venue in yellow, during the bridge of the opening song, creating a literal and metaphorical BANG!
There was an abundance of stage effects such as lasers, smoke, and projectors used on the stage. He was easily spotted due to the spotlight along with smoke regularly covering him to create an eerie and rock-style mood.
While mostly an upbeat and rock style concert, there were some emotional moments Tomlinson added in throughout that pulled on fans heartstrings, such as the song “Light to Dark,” which is about his late bandmate, Liam Payne, who died in late 2024. He also performed a popular One Direction song from their album ‘Four’ called “Night Changes.” The song topped the charts in 2014, and was (to the dismay of many) the sole cover from his former band that made the setlist.
One of my personal favorite moments was when he walked along the barricade and waved, as well as gave out high fives to fans on the rail, tiring their legs and backs for the privilege worth every ache.
One of Tomlinson’s famed concert traditions is to perform his signature “barricade jump” during the last song of the night (“Palaces”). The moment is documented for social media night. One thing is for darn sure, this guy knows how to end the show with a loud bang!
His openers, Picture Parlour and The Beaches set the mood for the night with their rock style songs and upbeat energy. Picture Parlour opened up the night with songs like “Norbury” and “Judgement Day. Standout tracks from Beaches including “Blame Brett” and “Perfect 10” mirrored Tomlinson’s forthcoming energy.
After the concert, hundreds of fans gathered outside the venue in hope of seeing the star’s tour bus leaving. Security eventually shut it down and made everyone go home, but not before fans had an opportunity to make new friends and rave to each other about the incredible show they just witnessed.
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