MGM Music Hall at Fenway presents: Faith In The Future Tour, July 24th, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts
Words and Photos by: Jacklyn Lipscomb
Pop-rock sensation Louis Tomlinson has achieved levels of fame throughout his lifetime that most artists can only dream of experiencing. If there is one thing that Tomlinson made overwhelmingly apparent while addressing the sold-out crowd during his first of two shows at MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston on July 24th, it was how grateful he was for the thousands of supportive faces staring back at him, wholeheartedly believing in the singer's musical evolution that inspired his most recent album and tour Faith In The Future.
This unwavering support of Tomlinson’s open-minded fanbase set the tone for the first act of the evening to take the stage- 23 year old singer songwriter Andrew Cushin. With his acoustic guitar in hand and backings from his keyboard player Richard, Cushin shocked the audience from first lyrics with his powerful vocals and brutally relatable subject matter that left many speechless. Starting his set with the title track from his debut EP "You Don't Belong" and continuing to play songs like "Dream For A Moment","You'll Be Free", and newest release "Wor Flags", Cushin gave new and old fans alike a taste of what's to come from his upcoming full length debut album "Waiting for the Rain" due to be released in September.
Ramping up the energy a notch, the show progressed with the sounds of Germany based rock band Giant Rooks. Instantly impressing the audience with their fun-loving, infectiously dance-able, and undeniable stage presence, the band won the crowd over with favorites like “Bedroom Exile”, “New Estate”, “Morning Blues”, and a handful of unreleased tracks that left everyone wanting to hear more. From start to finish, the band perfectly hyped the crowd up just in time for Louis to take center stage.
Soon, the moment that everyone had been anticipating finally arrived as white strobe lights pierced through the air and a thick layer of smoke enveloped the stage, Louis himself suddenly appeared on the big screens, writing the words “Faith In The Future” across the slate in black sharpie before his band began the opening chants of “The Greatest” for Tomlinson’s big entrance. Beaming at the crowd upon his first steps onto the stage, he stood in front of the microphone and nodded to the sea of eager fans, clearly just as grateful as everyone else in the room to be sharing this moment in time with everyone.
From elaborate lighting and stage visuals, to bursts of sparkling pyrotechnics and confetti streams, Tomlinson thrived while putting on a star studded performance, embracing his rock inspired sound and style that was strategically weaved throughout the night’s setlist. After putting a new spin on his earliest solo single “Back To You” and completely revamping One Direction’s nostalgic single “Night Changes” into a rock and roll anthem, it was only fitting that Tomlinson also brought out a killer cover of Arctic Monkey’s “505”- a fan favorite tour moment that has gained the artist an entirely new slew of praise from critics and non-supporters alike. The energy in the room was electrifying all night, as Tomlinson glided through old and new tracks, threading the moments of heartfelt redemption like “Holding Onto Heartache”, Chicago”, “Common People” , and “Walls” through the euphoria of crowd pleasers such as “We Made It”, “Written All Over Your Face”, and “All This Time” with pure precision.
Perhaps what makes Tomlinson’s music so indescribably cathartic to experience live is the expression of the monumental trials and tribulations the singer has faced, not only in his career but also in his personal life, that is articulated within the lyrics of each and every song. This lyrical depth has only strengthened the already awe-inspiring connection that the fans have with Tomlinson, and this special relationship was on full display for the entire set. Repeated thumbs up, gracious smiles, heart hands, and cheeky middle fingers held high were some of the many motions that the Doncaster star used to interact with audience members, earning waves of laughter and adorning nods at each continuous exchange. At one point Tomlinson accidentally kicked a beach ball directly into a fan at the front of the barricade, and his pure shock and remorse had him apologizing throughout the next two songs, with another added “Sorry love” announced between tracks for good measure.
Before diving into his unreleased original live show staple “Copy Of A Copy Of A Copy”, Louis took a more notable moment to fully address the audience. “I knew when I was writing this record that I was writing it for the live context, the live show, but you don’t know until you get out there how it’s going to work. And every single night has been so perfect. I’ve got you to thank for that- so thank you. It’s been brilliant... I f*****g love you all!"
Earning a roar of applause in excitement for the encore, Tomlinson finished off the night with “Saturdays”, another One Direction favorite “Where Do Broken Hearts Go”, and closed out the show up close and personal with fans for “Silver Tongues” as he went right down to the front barricade to sing and dance with everyone before one final blast of red confetti rained down on the crowd. As the band left the stage and the lights suddenly came back on, the realization of what everyone had just witnessed only nearly began to sink in. For most fans that have been supporting Louis for over a decade, it’s a culmination of years of love, loss, heartbreak, and the perils of living that make reuniting for these shows and hearing the songs that have guided them through life’s harshest moments so indescribably special. For Louis and fans alike, the act of being present at this show isn’t just another tour and another performance that will soon be forgotten. But instead, it spans much deeper than that- It's an ode to the healing power of music, the nostalgia of growing up, and the importance of remembering to keep a strong sense of faith in whatever the future might hold.
Check out the full gallery of Louis Tomlinson below!
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