Tag: Louis Tomlinson

It is often said that one of the rites of passage for a girl dad who enjoys live entertainment is taking his daughter to see her favorite boy band member in concert. I thought that moment had arrived when I bought my daughter Bella tickets to see former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, July 5. As it turned out, I was proven wrong. At 34, the English singer is the same age as I am, and he has long since shed the image of a pop boy-band heartthrob. Instead, Tomlinson has become a seasoned rock performer with a loyal following all his own. Ironically, Tomlinson and I share the same favorite color—red. The stage was bathed in crimson light throughout much of the evening, and Bella even suggested I wear a red shirt with black pants. To my surprise, Tomlinson walked onto the stage dressed in almost exactly the same outfit. I was especially impressed by his vocal stamina. The fact that a smoker can maintain such a smooth singing voice with that kind of durability was remarkable. I was also surprised that the concert was not sold out. Spectrum Center can accommodate roughly 15,000 people, and by my estimate about 10,000 seats were filled. Those who were there, however, could not have been more devoted. Many fans were younger than my 12-year-old daughter, but I was delighted to spot at least one woman who appeared to be well into her seventies dancing and singing just as enthusiastically as fans one-quarter her age. Touring in support of his third solo album, How Did I Get Here?, Tomlinson performed all 12 songs from the standard edition, along with the bonus track “The Answer.” He even treated fans to the hidden demo track “Send Me Under,” available only on the deluxe digital edition, closing his four-song encore with it. Of course, Bella knew every word to every song, as she owns every version of the album available. Judging by the deafening singalongs, so did everyone else in the arena. These were clearly Tomlinson’s people. Even when he skipped the occasional lyric to conserve his voice, the audience never missed a beat, singing every word for him before erupting into cheers after each song. Tomlinson made it clear that he recognized and appreciated that devotion. “From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank every person in this arena tonight,” he told the crowd. “Without the support of each and every one of you, I wouldn’t be able to do shows like this night after night. I want you to know that I love every one of you.” There may be one love in Tomlinson’s life that rivals that of his fans: soccer. As England battled Mexico in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal, the match was shown live on the arena’s massive video screens. Tomlinson’s performance occupied the top half of the screens while the soccer match played below. Fans embraced the unusual split-screen presentation, cheering as loudly for England’s goals as they did for Tomlinson himself. At one point, he paused mid-song to celebrate an English goal, drawing another roar from the crowd. When Mexico answered with a goal of its own before halftime, the arena responded with playful boos. Even though I probably would not have chosen to attend a Louis Tomlinson concert on my own, I enjoyed the evening far more than I ever expected. Much of that came from watching the joy on Bella’s face—and the tears that streamed down her cheeks when Tomlinson first stepped onto the stage. In fact, my only complaint was that his performance felt too short. Tomlinson raced through a 26-song set, including four encore numbers, in just 90 minutes. By comparison, nearly the same amount of time was devoted to his opening acts. Tomlinson has earned a reputation for championing female rock musicians, and this tour certainly reflected that commitment. Picture Parlour, an edgy rock band from northern England, opened the evening with a sound that evoked both Janis Joplin and Led Zeppelin. The advertised main opener, Toronto’s The Beaches, delivered a spirited 45-minute set blending hooks of The Bangles with the attitude of Avril Lavigne. Many of their songs angrily centered on putting exes firmly in the rearview mirror. “We want to give a shout-out to Louis Tomlinson for supporting so many women musicians on this tour,” the band’s lead singer, Jordan Miller, told the audience. “That doesn’t happen very often, and we notice it. We’re very appreciative.” Tomlinson immediately raised the energy when he opened his set with powerful new songs such as “Lemonade” and “On Fire.” The loudest reaction of the night came when he launched into the One Direction favorite “Changes.” I may have been the only person in the building who didn’t know every word. His band also deserves recognition. Pianist Zak Craner kept the audience entertained with instrumental interludes whenever Tomlinson stepped aside for a drink of water, earning warm ovations of his own, while the lead guitarist consistently elevated the performance with tasteful solos and powerful riffs. Finally, I would be remiss if I failed to thank the two people who made this unforgettable day possible. One of my dearest friends, Vall Dino, and his wonderful fiancée, Adrianna Meek, gladly drove Bella and me to and from Charlotte despite having to report to work the following morning on barely two hours of sleep. They could not have been better company, and I am deeply grateful for their friendship, generosity, and kindness. Moments like these help carry us through life’s far more difficult and enduring challenges. Thanks to them, I was able to share an unforgettable experience with my daughter that I will treasure for the rest of my life.