Harry Styles has become one of the biggest names in the music industry after his debut in One Direction and later solo career, in which he has seen great success. With a prosperous previous ‘Love on Tour’ around the globe in 2021 and early this year, it’s no surprise that the artist’s current one has been very popular as well. From Oct. 8-15, Styles brought his ‘Love on Tour’ (HSLOT) to Chicago once again. Overall, I thought that HSLOT was a show stopping-experience that I highly recommend despite the high price tag.

The performances were held at United Center, one of 5 locations featured in his new North American tour. HSLOT in Chicago had a rocky start due to a postponement of opening night on Oct. 6 due to band and crew illness. The United Center sent a statement on social media platforms just two hours before the scheduled start time notifying fans of the change.

Despite the rescheduling of the opening show, fans were still excited to experience the exclusive features the show had to offer. I received a puzzle piece designated for the first 10,000 people to arrive; a memento I will carry with me. There were also six phone booths where anyone could record a welcome message for Styles and a garage photo wall for all Instagram needs. While these select features sound exciting, the lines were very long and disorganized, taking away from the experience. My friends and I decided that the wait wasn’t worth it since we wanted enough time to buy food and other merchandise.

Unlike Styles’ previous tours, merchandise lines were much shorter. Despite the short wait times, the prices were incredibly expensive. T-shirts, hoodies, posters, hats and tote bags were being sold, and I spent around $143 for one t-shirt and a hoodie. The material of the clothing was very soft, but similar to a typical sweatshirt you can buy at any clothing store for half the price. Additionally, there was limited sizing and I had to buy two sizes bigger than I usually wear. If you want merchandise, don’t forget your wallet!

I also purchased a medium soft drink and a pretzel with cheese for around $17; the quality was substandard, to say the least. It was a little cold and the serving portion was small. If you want to save money, I would recommend eating before you arrive.. 

For the actual performance, I spent $250 for a seat in section 201. It was a terrific seat that wasn’t too far away from the action for its shockingly low price. Jessie Ware came on for the opening act to an ecstatic crowd. Given her killer stage presence, the assistance of backup singers, dancers and an electrifying band, the crowd loved it. Ware’s audience engagement was so captivating I ended up listening to more of her music after this experience. She was hands-down a great choice as an opening act who set the stage for Styles’ lively performance.

I can only compare Styles’ performance to a crazy roller coaster ride. The adrenaline rush I got when the lights dimmed and he emerged made me get a jumpy feeling in my stomach. From there, his stage presence carried his entire performance. He made me sing my heart out, dance until I was running out of breath and tearing up from joy. The band was incredible and was highly accredited by Styles himself. The crowd was cheering on the horns, guitar, drums and keys throughout the entire show. His setlist was also perfect; starting with a collection of upbeat, high energy songs, shifting to more mellow and calming songs, then to emotional ballads before returning back to his upbeat energy to close out the performance.

Styles was also incredibly interactive with the crowd. Some of his most notable interactions were when he wished a girl a happy birthday and announced someone coming out as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. He created a fun, welcoming environment where anyone could be anything they desired and enjoy the show.

Harry Styles ‘Love on Tour’ was one of the best concerts I have ever attended. While there were some downsides due to the postponement and the high price tag on tickets and merchandise, it was a once in a lifetime experience. Rumors state that Styles is working on more songs and hopefully he’ll come back to Chicago to grace the city again with another one of his fantastic performances.