#after seeing how louis and the crowd interacted at my concert

[alwaysxlarrie]

i never thought i’d say it’s been a while since i’ve posted a snippet but i also never thought i’d write a cult leader louis fic, so. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ but here it is !!

“The moment he’d heard about the event, he signed up. Harry loved his college, but unfortunately they didn’t prioritize the music department the way he wished they would, which made being a music major a slightly more lonely experience than he would’ve liked. So, while he’d never heard of Louis Tomlinson or his organization before this, that was okay. Those were just mere details. What mattered was that there was an event. For music. In all his nineteen years, he’s never been so excited for a school event.

“Harmonic Haven is my most important life mission. Bringing people in, instilling confidence in them, encouraging them to be their best, always readily available lessons, improving your skills — all of it is essential to the heart of this organization.” Louis saunters around the stage, confident and raspy voice booming smoothly from his microphone.

Harry watches raptly as Louis makes eye contact with people in the crowd and sends an alluring grin their way, enticing them to continue listening. His eyes are hypnotizingly sparkly; a unique blue that Harry could spend days writing songs about. They draw you in and make you constantly want their undivided attention; Harry has had them on him twice now and has been actively fighting the urge to do something ridiculous to get his attention again. He can tell that even just having a single conversation with Louis about their passion for music would reignite the spark in him.

His fingers are itching to take notes, but he doesn’t dare to look away for too long — it’s too much of an risk to miss anything Louis' saying, let alone miss the chance of Louis' eyes on him again.

But Harry knows he needs to do something memorable before Louis' presentation is over, needs Louis to recognize him when Harry goes down to talk to him afterward. There will be tens — likely hundreds, really — of students lined up to talk to Louis and Harry can’t risk not getting a chance. He needs to do something now that will make Louis remember him. And quickly.”

i am nothing if not consistent with long-ish snippets, no matter how long it's been lol. anyway i've edited this to absolute smithereens so hopefully it's decent!! not entirely sure who’s working on a fic at the moment so i’ll just tag a few people lol @loveislarryislove @allwaswell16 @lululawrence @londonfoginacup @jacaranda-bloom @kingonafiftymetreroad @crinkle-eyed-boo @greenblueish @beelou @disgruntledkittenface

#snippet saturday #saturday snippets #my fic snippets #cult leader louis #after seeing how louis and the crowd interacted at my concert #i just couldn’t NOT write this #y’all feel me #mans could lead a whole ass cult if he wanted to if we're being honest lol #i am ALSO in the midst of making gifs from my concert #i took videos of every song i'm so proud of myself #and of my phone tbh lol

[musicforastylesrestaurant]

Hi hun, would you be in the mood to write something about dadrry dealing with his kids terrible twos pls

The Terrible Two’s.

masterlist || ask me anything <3

blurb masterlist is here.

authors note - something about lhh being a dad does something to me i simply cannot describe so enjoy my loves…!

word count - 1.4k

in which, travelling with your husband around europe hasn’t been the most smooth sailing, especially when your daughters currently experiencing her terrible twos.

Faith Anne Styles.

After dating your boyfriend Harry for just over a year, you fell pregnant at the lovely age of nineteen and now both of you are at the age of twenty one and had a beautiful baby girl.

The perfect mix of both of you.

But life wasn’t all that swell.

As you stand backstage at the One Direction concert in Oslo, Denmark ,the pulsating excitement of the crowd seeping through the walls from the support act McBusted.

You watched as your boyfriend, the charismatic Harry Styles, attempts to navigate the treacherous waters of your two-year-old daughter Faith's terrible twos.

It seems that tonight, the tantrum monster has reared its head, threatening to disrupt the carefully choreographed chaos of the concert.

Great timing there, Faith Baby.

You glance around and notice Niall, Louis, and Liam, all observing the situation with wide eyes and amused expressions.

Harry, ever the doting father, crouches down to Faith's level, his brows furrowing in concern.

"Hey, baby love," Harry cooed gently, his voice a soothing melody in the midst of the chaos. "What's got you feeling so gloom and doom, eh?"

Faith's tiny face contorts, her little fists clenched tightly as she lets out a shrill cry. The sound reverberates through the backstage area, drawing amused glances from the rest of the band.

Louis, unable to resist a cheeky remark, leans over to Liam and whispers, "I think little Faith here is giving Harry a taste of his own teenage rebellion. Karma's a funny thing, innit?"

You never knew Harry in his pre teen years, however from the stories that you had been told by his family and fellow bandmates, he was a bit of a cheeky chappy.

And you couldn’t help but think that Faith, at just two years old, had developed some of his cheeky persona.

Before going down for naps, she would negotiate about how she wasn’t tired and then proceed to jump out of her crib, running through the house the same way that Harry would.

If you ever went to the shops or the park, then you would often catch her talking to random strangers as she held onto your hand or sat in her stroller, waving at them and being the kind girl she is and due to her father most likely doing the exact same thing.

You knew your two year old shouldn’t be interacting with strangers but she was just simply too adorable.

Liam chuckles and nods in agreement, but their attention is quickly pulled back to the unfolding drama.

Harry tries a different approach, his voice filled with patience and understanding. "Faith, darling, let's try to use our words, yeah? What's making you so upset?"

But Faith's wails persist, growing louder and more intense with each passing moment. She falls to the floor, kicking and flailing her arms, her cries echoing through the backstage area.

You watched as Harry ran a hand through his shoulder length hair, you could see slight stress lines appearing on his forehead.

He took it exceptionally hard when Faith would be upset, no parent liked to see their child sad but Harry absolutely hated it. He would always sit with her until she felt up for talking and although she was only a two year old and could hardly form a coherent sentence he would nod his head and listen to every word she said.

Faith idolised him.

Niall chuckles, watching the spectacle unfold. "Well, she's certainly giving us a show, isn't she? The drama of the terrible twos."

Tell you about it.

Harry shoots Niall a slight glare, finding absolutely nothing about the situation taking place funny in the slightest,before refocusing his attention on Faith.

He kneels down beside her, speaking softly amidst the cacophony. “Hey, my love, I know it's frustrating. Let's take some deep breaths together, okay? In and out."

But Faith's tantrum continues to escalate. She starts throwing toys and objects around, her frustration seemingly endless. The backstage area is filled with the commotion, drawing curious glances from the crew members and dancers nearby.

One thing you hated was gaining unnecessary attention.

Louis leans closer to Liam, a mixture of amusement and awe on his face. "I never thought I'd say this, but Faith might just give us a run for our money in the energy department."

Liam chuckles, nodding in agreement. "That she does. But Harry's got this. He's a patient one, that lad."

Harry tries different tactics, attempting to distract Faith with a toy or a silly face. But her cries persist, and the tantrum shows no signs of abating.

The band members exchange glances, a mixture of amusement, sympathy, and mild concern. This is uncharted territory for them, witnessing Harry deal with the full force of a toddler tantrum.

Harry's voice remains calm, though a hint of exhaustion seeps in. "Faith, sweetheart, I understand you're upset. Can you tell daddy what's wrong?"

But Faith's words are muffled amidst the tears and screams, her frustration rendering her temporarily speechless.

She continues to lash out, her tiny body wracked with sobs.

You step closer, offering your support. "Harry, maybe it's best if we take a break. Find a quiet spot for her to calm down."

Harry nods, his eyes filled with determination. "You're right, love. Let's find a quiet room where she can settle."

Together, a crew member leads you as well as Harry and Faith away from the backstage chaos, seeking Together, you lead Harry and Faith away from the backstage chaos, seeking refuge in a nearby dressing room.

The familiar scent of hairspray and the faint echoes of music provide a contrast to the storm of emotions still raging within Faith.

Gently closing the door behind you, you find a comfortable corner where Harry can sit with Faith in his arms. The room is dimly lit, allowing a sense of tranquillity to settle in.

Harry cradles Faith, his touch gentle and reassuring. "Shh, my love. We're here in our little haven. Take your time, sweetheart. We'll wait until you're ready to talk."

And if it was up to both you and Harry, you would both wait an eternity.

Faith's cries gradually subside into sniffles, her breath hitching as she tries to regain control, gripping a strand of her fathers long curls whilst the other grips onto the hem of his shirt.

Harry's soothing presence provides an anchor in the midst of her emotional tempest.

You sit beside them, offering a comforting smile. "It's okay, Faith. Mommy and Daddy are here for you. We love you, no matter what."

Faith looks up at you, her tear-stained cheeks glistening in the soft light. Her eyes search yours, seeking solace and understanding. You gently stroke her hair, allowing the silence to envelop the room, giving Faith the space she needs to collect herself.

Minutes pass, and the tension begins to dissipate. Faith's breathing steadies, her tiny frame relaxing against Harry's chest.

The storm of her tantrum has run its course, leaving behind a weary calm.

Harry speaks softly, his voice a comforting lullaby. "Sometimes, my love, we get overwhelmed. It's okay to feel angry or frustrated. But remember, we're always here to help you through it."

Faith nuzzles closer to Harry, finding comfort in his words. She wraps her tiny arms around his neck, seeking solace in his embrace.

The best father daughter duo.

The door creaks open, and Niall peeks inside, his eyes filled with concern. "Is everything alright?"

You nod, a sense of relief washing over you. "Yes, No, Faith just needed some quiet time. She's calming down now."

There was no doubt that Niall was Faith’s favourite uncle when it came to the four boys.

Niall steps into the room, his face softening as he gazes at the scene before him. "You're doing a great job, you guys. Parenting isn't easy, especially in the midst of all this craziness."

Harry smiles, gratitude and weariness mingling in his eyes. "Thanks, Niall. It's a learning process for all of us. But moments like these remind us why it's all worth it."

The sound of music drifts through the door, a reminder of the support act performing still in full swing. The energy of the crowd and the rhythm of the songs pulse through the walls, but in this small sanctuary, you find a moment of calm amidst the storm.

As Faith's breathing evens out and her grip on Harry loosens, you lean in and plant a tender kiss on her forehead. "We love you, Faith. And we're here for you, always."

Always and forever.

For eternity.

#musicforastylesrestaurant #harry styles #harry styles angst #harry styles au #harry styles blurb #harry styles fluff #harry styles imagine #harry styles masterlist #harry styles fake ig #harry styles headcanon #harry styles x oc #harrystylesdrabble #harry styles fake social media #harry styles x reader #harry styles x y/n #harrystylesxreader #anon #harry styles one shot #harry styles writing #harry styles x yn #harry styles x you #dad!harry #dadrry

[louisupdates]

Louis Tomlinson brings Faith In The Future tour to Oregon!

Louis Tomlinson - June 27th, 2023 - Mcmenamins Edgefield , Troutdale, OR

British musician Louis Tomlinson recently brought his Faith in The Future tour to one of Oregon’s most spectacular outdoor concert venues at the McMenamins Edgefield. The concert grounds were located on the field of their 74 acre property that can seat up to 7,000 concertgoers per show. One thing I always enjoy about Louis Tomlinson gigs are that the openers are always amazing - at our show we got to see incredible opening performance from Andrew Cushin and The Snuts.

First to perform was Andrew Cushin with just his guitar and a keyboardist. Cushin had freshly released his song “It’s Coming Round Again” just two hours before taking the stage, which had him pretty animated through out his entire set. Many fans showed up early and braved the harsh sunlight during his set which goes to show how good of a performance he puts on.

After a short change over, The Snuts took the stage. The four-piece Scottish band has a classic indie rock sound that you’ll be a fan of if you like artists such as The Wombats, The Kooks, and Catfish & The Bottlemen. I’m certain many concert goers who went into the show knowing nothing about The Snuts left as brand new fans - people were singing along to their songs like “Always” and “Hallelujah Moment” and dancing along even when they didn’t know the lyrics.

Anticipation was high as Louis Tomlinson took the stage right as the golden sun rays peeked through the trees. Adorned with a pair of Ray-Bans and a bright yellow Jamaican football jersey, the screams were at an all time high. He opened the show with “The Greatest,” which also happens to be the opening song of his second studio album Faith In The Future that was released in 2022.

You can tell how much thought Louis and his team put into making sure this tour would be one the crowds will remember for a lifetime. The production was a huge step up from his previous tour, with LED screens hanging from the ceiling of the stage and pyro that went off a handful of times. It was fun to sit back and watch the show - there wasn’t a bad seat in the venue. Throughout the night Tomlinson took time to sign fans’ signs when he found them funny, and would occasionally flip fans off which has become more of an inside joke with fans that he’s done throughout his career.

Alongside his impressive touring band, the 31-year-old singer-songwriter performed a total of 23 songs, mostly from his first studio album Walls and his most recent album Faith In The Future (even performing some of the songs from the bonus version of the album that was released this year). But Tomlinson didn’t stop there - we also got to hear a couple of One Direction songs and the cherry on top was his cover of Arctic Monkeys’ song “505.” I personally would love to see him explore the Rock/British Rock genre a little deeper, as it suits his voice so well and you can tell he is heavily inspired by bands within this scene. One of my favorite aspects of Louis Tomlinson concerts is that they feel curated by Tomlinson himself - the pre-show playlists, the openers, the production, and even the merch. It’s truly been a pleasure getting to witness Tomlinson’s musical growth and creativity since the disbanding of One Direction.

The night ended with Tomlinson’s final encore song of the night, “Silver Tongues,” where the singer made his way down to the barricade to interact with fans as red streaming confetti into the crowd further back. This moment surely left the show on a high note.

Louis Tomlinson will be touring through North America til July, then will be heading back overseas to finish up the world tour in Europe and United Kingdom. You can find out if a show is coming near you on his site here.

Photos by Sarina Solem

Photos part 2

#fitfwt23: troutdale #louis tomlinson #27.6.2023

[faithinlouisfuture]

I started to type all of this on the night of my show but literally passed out in the middle, cuz I had been up for 23 hours at that point! Today was my flight back home. It feels surreal that I saw him just day before yesterday (yesterday for me if you account for all the time zone differences) and now I’m back in my bed thousands of miles away 😭 Literally feels like a fever dream! To get to the point though (and you know this is about to get insanely long cuz who am I if not a rambler?)

First and foremost HE IS NEVER EVER BEATING THE SUN ALLEGATIONS!!! I had been in Istanbul for a week before the show day, and the weather had been cool and cloudy and it had even rained on and off, come concert day the SUN came out in full force!!! It was the sunniest it had been all week! He literally just carries the sunshine with him 😭

About the show itself; OMG!!! I have watched every single livestream from Dallas to Mexico City n3 but nothing could have prepared me for Louis in real life. Seeing him with my own two eyes makes him even more unreal if that’s possible. He’s literally impossibly beautiful. He radiates. He’s everything! HIS VOICE. It’s so pretty 😭 it’s wind chimes on a sea side resort, it’s hummingbirds in a serene jungle, it’s gritty when it needs to be and soft when it needs to be and I just… I’m speechless but I also want to write multiple essays on the topic! If only I was eloquent enough! Livestreams truly cannot capture the real quality of it, even though he sounds so beautiful on those too, but in person it’s just, there’s this quality to it, like dripping honey and so effortlessly cool.

God he was so happy and babie!!! Ngl I was hoping I’d get a slutty Louis show but OMG he was so so so happy and babie and cheeky! And he looked so good I can’t even explain. I absolutely loved the top he wore for the show! 😍 he had the most beautiful wispy hair situation going on, his skin looked so unreal and beautiful, his tattoos in real life 😭😭😭 His bone structure!!! How is that even possible?!? The royal peach?!? EXCUSE ME SIR! With that waist, and the way he holds himself! And moves his delicate hands and pops that hip sometimes. His smile!!! It lit up the entire place!!! HIS EYES!!! like they literally sparkle like actual gems 😭 I just could go on and on and on times infinity!

It took me about 4 songs to notice that Matt wasn’t even there cuz I couldn’t peel my eyes away from Louis. (I may have peeled them away for a few seconds to oggle at Michael though - GOOD GOD. That man is hot! I have some Michael content to post too!)

And I know that so many people have already mentioned this fact before but omg his stage presence. He owns the entire space. There were tens of thousands of people there, and the crowd was insanely rowdy but the second he hits that stage - he commands every iota of your attention. The way he prowls the entire stage, at times bunny hopping, and makes sure to go to every corner, and interact with every section! Mr. Pointy Fingers as always, pointing at signs, flipping people off, being his cheeky adorable self! It was an EXPERIENCE™ seeing it all live 😭 I will never forget, I want it all tattooed on the inside of eyelids! And I truly hope that every single louie gets to experience it for themselves!

Seems like he’s gonna stick to the San Juan set list for the Asian leg. (I tried to include my track by track rambling on the show in this post but tumblr said I dont think so cuz apparently I exceeded the word limit allowed for one post 🫣 so I guess I’ll make a separate post for that even if just for myself. Cuz I want to remember it all)!

TRULY AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME. And I’m so glad that I got to share it with other solos 🤍 So glad to have met both of you in person Max & Vee! @fearlesspuff @sunshinebinx and so so thankful to have had you there throughout the waiting line torture and the gate entrance madness and then the after show freaking out! Hope we can attend future Louis concerts together some day too! x

#ltwt22: istanbul #louies at ltwt22 #this time it’s me #I’m louies 😭😭😭 #how did I ever get so lucky?!? #ltwt22 #MY SHOW #ltwt22: Louis x Emmy #louis tomlinson

[alarrytale]

Dear Marte, I kinda need to defend Louis when it comes to his live shows. I don´t know how often do you attend concerts but as a person who always loved way too many bands and going to their shows is basically my hobby and how I spice up my life, I don´t expect that Louis will try to make his every show a stand-up comedy just like H does because that´s what normal musicians/bands do - they go to stage, play 3 songs, say some words to warmup the crowd and then they play more songs.

This year I saw Lizzo (I´m a huge fan of hers no matter if she´s linked to H or the drama what´s happening to her now) and she also had this "comedy" sequence and I just found it really unnecessary and kinda felt like she´s doing it because she saw it at H´s shows. And same with Niall, who I saw last month at festival, fans brought signs and he read some and I was like "why is everyone copying H and do this at their shows too?". Having said that I went to too many shows mostly by indie/alternative rock bands so far and I never had this comedy experience because nobody do it because nobody need to do it. At so yes, when we compare those shows to H´s, yes they are boring and same every other show and the difference is mostly how lound and engaged is the crowd and the mood of the singer/frontman of the band.

I would also like to add that it´s the only 2nd solo tour for him and IMO it´s too soon for him to be really really comfortable with his stage presentance. Musicians always evolve when they get more and more experience every tour and become comfortable and sure with their performance. So I would give Louis more time to evolve.

I´m gonna see him twice next month and I´m excited because I´m just coming to see him and hear his songs live. And I really don´t expect anything else that good sound, his voice and the crowd being nice. Any maybe some nice outfit but don´t know when yesterday was like the peak with his cutie pink rabbit hahaha

Hi, anon!

Sorry, i wasn't trying to take anything away from you all who enjoy his shows. That wasn't my intention. I love that you enjoy them! Get excited! That's the goal. I think i would be too if i went to one. I'm not sure if i'd feel the same excitement if i went to several. But as someone who follows them from home, the shine has worn off a bit.

I've been to my fair share of concerts. My take away is that if the music is good enough, and their general stage presence and emotional delivery is there, you don’t need the artist to do other forms of entertainment. The music is enough. But i have to say i do love a bit of banter beween band mates, heckling from the audience and funny fan interactions. I love an anecdote or artists who introduce their songs by talking about how they were written or what inspired them to write it. But don't repeat it word after word every single show. That's boring. Make every show special. Spice it up. I can do without the gender reveals, guitar smashing, stage drinking or kissing fans.

I think the best thing about Louis' shows are the fan projects or initiatives. Rainbow projects, rainbow flags and the spontaneous conga lines in the pit. So much of it got nothing to do with Louis, but all to do with the common effort the louies make to create a safe and happy atmosphere. I'm pretty sure he could stand on stage wearing a garbage bag singing bah bah black sheep(s), and fandom would make the show and fan experience worth the while for us fans either way. It sometimes feels more like a big louie party, where louis is the dj.

I agree that we need to let him have time to grow, but considering he was also touring with 1d, he's a touring veteran. He's gotten bolder and more confident, but it's slow going and i guess i'm impatient for him to give us something more.

#solo louis #fandom

[silverfoxlou]

Haa, ngl I find it funny how people even got to the point of comparing the Santiago KMM lights project to whatever the fuck I just saw happening in Harry's show. The clip from LTWT is no doubt superior. And to all the l/harries who complain about the lack of stage presence Louis has, please get your eyes and ears checked. That clip itself is a proof of how good Louis is at interacting with the crowd. He appreciates the fans as soon as he sees the light project and asks for them to sing the bridge louder for him. Anyone with proper working ears can tell how significantly loud they become after Louis asks them to be. Kudos to Santiago Louies for making this a thing for all Louies all around Latam and Asia too. It's definitely one of the highlights in every concert. And what even was that clip from Harry's show? It honestly took me while to realise what song he was singing (or lipsyncing, as I saw a few people talking about it). It was extremely bland. And if he is actually lip-syncing, I want to really send my condolences to the people who work with him in the studio. You literally can't hear any of the fans singing loud enough either to actually understand which song or what part of the song is playing. And no offence to harries, actually yes, all offence to harries, please let something be original for the person you're stanning. He does enough copying from other artists for y'all to start doing that too. Let at least his fandom have some originality left.

Yeah! That video from the first night of the latam tour in Chile will always be the best. Louis' little "eyyy" and the fans immediately singing louder than they already were.

And Louis tweeted about it the very next day

Harry's shows are... idk if it's just the clips I've seen that have been on my tl or dash because someone was making fun of it, but what the fuck is happening on that stage? It just looks like a pantomime.

[dearmrsawyer]

I have lived through the most wonderful exquisitely joyful weekend and got to see Louis twice at long last!!! I didn't want to express my excitement in the lead up because i was so petrified that i would catch covid like a week before and be unable to go, but god really had his hand on me and delivered me from 2 VERY close calls in the 2 weeks leading up to the shows lol. 2 weekends prior my brother's girlfriend caught covid the day he was with her, but the infection was obviously so fresh that she didn't transfer it to him. and then the following Wednesday our boss at work sent an email saying she was happy for us to join meetings virtually since cases were on the rise, and it was just in time because on Thursday we had a staff meeting, and on Saturday someone who was in the meeting room tested positive LIKE. god was really like if this girl does not get to go to these concerts she is going to unravel like a ball of frayed yarn lol

but ANYWAY it was the most amazing, amazing weekend, both nights were so fulfilling and just.. i felt pure happiness. louis was so BRIGHT and i got to share a room with him and lots of other very excited people, i just had the best best time. highlights from memory:

i've said before that i think it was so galaxy brain of him to open the show with 'we made it', especially in the context of all the rescheduling, and i was so excited to finally get to scream it out when he came on stage and the moment lived up to it!! i couldn't even hear louis for the first few lines of the song because the crowd was singing SO loud lol, it felt like a moment of such release for everyone there, it was really cool

on night 1 he walked out in that bright yellow shirt like a BEACON!! i always call him my sunshine and he is!! he was literally the louis that lives in my mind right there on stage. and on night 2 it was a very classic louis look in one of his 4000 burberry shirts lol, a comforting and familiar presence <3

can't express... just cannot express how happy i was during through the dark, i felt like it was visibly radiating out of me. its one of my favourite songs ever and my fav 1d song. it captures a specifically positive energy that i am so drawn to, and that i've coincidentally always associated with louis. i can't even explain how the room felt during that song, it was joy! i took a moment on night one to capture a snippet of it for myself to hold onto forever. the absolute respect louis has for me specifically to tour this song and let ME watch HIM sing it, that song both nights was genuinely one of the highlights of my entire life

don't let it break your heart was another one of the standout songs for me, one of my favourite louis songs!! maybe for me the one that i feel most represents louis, and i felt like it was a favourite for a lot of other people there as well, which took me by surprise! but i love that song soo much and it was so good live :)

wow seeing his smile in person...... sunshine

his stage presence!! he's become such a playful presence on stage, its so him, he is so interactive while he's singing. he doesn't do a lot of chatting between songs and i realised he likes to do the bulk of his playing as he sings lol. he's been like that all tour but i didn't realise it until my shows, i wonder if that's a comfort he built during 1d that he's deliberately exercised as a solo artist and made a key part of his performance

coacoa was soooo amazing live, and he sang changes which i LOVE. got lt2 is going to be so good

getting to point at louis with 5000 other people and shout "you were my because" 10/10 experience could not have enjoyed that more if i tried

oh the snuts were really good! i hadn't investigated them at all and wanted to hear them for the first time live (i feel like that's such a great way to be introduced to music) and their set was literally just jam after jam, i'm excited to dig into their music properly

i didn't even realise until i was on the way to the show on night 2 that it was the 1d anniversary! the crowd sang happy bday to 1d during the break before the encore 😂 honestly singing the 1d songs on night 2 felt so celebratory, what a cool experience to get to sing them with louis on such an important day

omg also on night 2 i was toward the side of the pit and saw little bentley with his sign ready for the show 😭 pre show our whole side of the crowd was cheering every time he lifted his sign, i found a short video here of it, we did this for like 30 minutes dskjlgkdfl it was v cute. i didn't even know they were from australia!

i completely lost my voice by the end of night 1 and couldn't speak the whole way home rofl, thankfully it came back the next morning ready for night 2. ugh it was just!!!!!! 🎇🎇🎇 this year has been.. quite horrible and this was so refilling. I have a week off work now because i was originally going to go to the Melbourne shows, but decided it was best not to take the extra risk, so instead this week is all mine to reminisce.

#it wasn't the perfect weekend because i was supposed to share it with silv #a bit crushed it couldn't work out!!! #this also means i have still met 0 tumblr friends :/ #silv is still going to get her louis dose tho thankfully! we'll have to share niall instead when he eventually comes #now just need to wait and see if the larries gave me covid 😂 #i have been a bit stressed the last couple of months about the chances of catching covid at the shows #this was briefly overridden by my fear of catching covid before the shows and not being able to go LOL #but once i was there i was just so happy there wasn't even room in me to be worried #im a fairy one feeling at a time #i also felt like i had done everything i could to protect myself #flu + booster shots in june #and i wore 2 masks and a filter #so i did all i could \o/

[erodasfishtacos]

HSLOT SAINT LOUIS

warnings: smut, 18+

-

Harry was doing his same script, he’s been starting every show but addressing the circular stage.

“Sometimes you’ll get m’face and sometimes you’ll get m’ass. Please, let me know if y’have a preference,” He gives the crowd a cocky grin, it widens when the audience goes insane with whistles and screams.

YN is standing off to the side, where she always stands with Harry’s friends and family who come and go - visiting them.

Harry’s eyes dart to his wife, when he sees her rolls her eyes at him, he points at her, speaking right into the microphone, “And you’ll be gettin’ the ass baby!”

The arena is near deafening with the fans who are fawning and cooing at the couples interactions, they all look back to YN.

She blows him a kiss and he dramatically snatches, smacking it right on his backside with a cheeky wink and purse of his lips.

He goes on with the show in his stunning red outfit that fit for Saint Louis perfectly - YN was matching him in a dark satin orange slinky dress that was undeniably sexy. It had Harry feeling her up backstage before he went on. ***

The fans loved that the couple matched at every concert.

YN loved watching her husband perform and after that comment about her getting his ass…well, it gave her some ideas for later.

The way the shirt he was wearing wasn’t buttoned enough so she could see the glisten on his chest, how the trousers hugged his perky backside like a sin.

It may be wrong, but everybody in this arena wanted him.

They want to hug him, kiss him, blow him, fuck him - but the only one who got that was her and she basked in it.

As Harry finishes with Kiwi, losing his absolute shit, YN and everyone else starts to head backstage. YN waves to a few fans and stops for a selfie or two before disappearing.

When Harry runs back to join, after dashing from center stage, he automatically finds his wife and wraps her up into a tight hug.

“Ew, bun. You’re extra sweaty, you definitely need to go shower,” YN crinkles her nose, pushing him off as he does stink a bit and is just sticky from sweat.

Usually, Harry would coerce his wife into joining him but they had quite a few friends who came to see the concert and YN was expected to entertain them.

“I’ll be thinkin’ about you, flower,” He teases, nipping her ear before chatting with their friends for a moment before he’s trailing off to shower and change.

-

YN waits a few minutes, enough time to guarantee he was already in the shower - soaping up.

She punches in the code to his locked dressing room, a soft smirk on her face as she steps over where he’s strewn the orange ensemble to purposefully piss off Harry Lambert - like always.

When she opens the bathroom door, she makes sure to be as quiet as possible - same as when she shuts and locks it behind her.

It a modern, standard shower stall and Harry is standing facing away from his wife - scrubbing his hair roughly to get the styling gel and grime out.

Harry’s shoulders are so broad.

His back is just…beautiful.

It’s so muscular, defined, and strong as he flexes his arms forward. Then her eyes trail down to his backside.

His bum was small, she loved to tease him and pinch it but it was muscular as well from those squats and wall sits he does in the gym.

After she quickly undresses, she steps in behind him into shower - pressing her chest up against his wet back and wrapping her arms around his waist.

Harry startles, nearly jumping out of his own skin before huffing out a laugh and leaning back into his wife, relaxing - well more like melting as he puts his weight on her.

“Thought y’were some crazy fan,” He jokes, hand coming down to cup the hers on his waist but frowning when she pulls back.

“Against the wall,” YN murmurs firmly, pushing him gently until his chest is against the tile and the shower head is pounding on his back and shoulders.

Harry shuffles forward, willingly albeit confused about what was going on and his wife’s demeanor as the cold of the wall hardens his nipples.

“Baby? Y’alright-“

“Did you wash yourself up already?” YN asks directly, hands rubbing softly at his sides, squeezing where his mini love handles are.

“M’body? Yeah, why-“

She cuts him off again, lips on his shoulder blade, “You told the crowd and me that I was getting your ass. I’m just holding you to your word.”

And when Harry realizes what’s about to go down, he lets out a low, explicit moan that echos throughout the bathroom.

“Yeah, baby, yeah,” He babbles excitedly, it wasn’t like this was something rare for them. They normally incorporated ass play into their sex life.

It was something about catching him off guard, when he’s vulnerable, and the post-show adrenaline has already worn off - making him malleable and pliant for his wife.

“You want to be all cocky, arrogant on stage, right? But look at you now, whining for your wife to touch you,” YN teases sharply, hand drifting down to squeeze his cheek hard enough to make him squeak.

“Baby. I’m yours, I’m yours,” He gasps, voice turning into a raspy yet high begging tone.

It was a tone of his voice that nobody in that crowd had or would ever hear. No, it was saved for her when she had him like this, like nobody else ever will.

“You don’t think I know that, Harry?” His wife laughs, fingers moving to sneak between his cheeks, pressing tightly against where he’s aching for her.

She continues, “God, I think everyone knows your mine. You can’t keep your eyes off me during the concert, parade around your wedding band, make sure my tattoo is always visible.”

“It’s ‘cause you- oh fuck, s’cause y’my soulmate,” Harry moans, pushing back on her fingers - wanting more but she wasn’t willing, “Need more, darlin’, m’close.”

She really wasn’t even doing much beside pressing at him, pushing in just the tiniest amount but he was grinding his hips against the wall a bit and her tits felt so good on his back.

Sometimes when he came off stage, he had absolutely no stamina.

Normally he could last but when he was adrenaline high and had basically edge himself in front of tens of thousands of people, it wasn’t going to be a long event.

“That’s really sad, H. Reminding me of when we were teenagers and you couldn’t last,” YN ends her rude statement with a bite to his shoulder before dragging her teeth down a bit.

It was just fun to get Harry worked up, he still acted the same from when they were younger - he’d get bratty and demanding, whiney, his chest and neck bloom into a soft pink color, and his eyes are a bit wet.

“Still just as much of a fool f’you, tha’s why,” Harry puffs out, hands continuously clenching and releasing over and over against the wall - like he wants to just make Harry wife touch him, tortured by her teasing.

“Fine, fine,” YN simpers, as if he was being a pain but she slips down onto her knees - hands dragging down his back and then his lean, solid thighs.

But in typical Harry behavior, he turns back and looks over his shoulder, “Sunflower, y’knees? We can move out of the shower.”

“Shush up,” She accentuates her words with a heavy handed smack to his right cheek and she chuckles when he gasps out a quiet, “Fuck.”

YN cups his cheeks, spreading them and leaning forward.

As soon as her tongue hits where he’s hot and tight, his legs twitch, and he puts his hands on the wall to brace himself.

“Darling, baby, baby,” Harry mewls, pushing back for more and hissing when she licks into him - his ring-bare hand leaning back to thread into her hair.

YN was planning to draw this out but she only gets a few directed laps before he’s moaning obsencenly, loud enough to hear through the god damn arena.

And then he’s gripping his cock, giving one firm tug, and he’s coming with pants and unfiltered, inconsiderate shouts of pleasure.

“S’good, m’good wife. S’no one better than you. Y’the only one who makes me feel like this. Crave y’like a drug, flower,” He praises endlessly, he turns around and helps her up - kissing her harshly.

When his hand comes to sneak between her thighs, she shakes her head and murmurs, “We don’t have time, H. Everyone is waiting on us.”

He pouts with his swollen pink lips, “I’ll take care of y’are the hotel, promise.”

“Mm,” She agrees, scrubbing the leftover shampoo bubbles from his hair as he tucks his face into her neck and tries make himself smaller.

Harry always gets a little sheepish after she does anything that makes him feel vulnerable, needs reassurance from her.

“Only with you, m’yours. Y’own my heart, ‘ave since we were fifteen,” Harry murmurs into her neck.

-

When they get themselves together, dressed, and exit the bathroom into the dressing room.

Harry Lambert is irritated as he is picking Harry’s clothing off the floor and putting it back on the hanger.

The stylist gives them a look, a knowing look, as he hangs the trousers on the rack.

“Fuck off,” The singer huffs, tugging his wife by the hand out of the room and to the car waiting for them.

#harry styles #hslot #harry styles love on tour #hslot!harry #hslotrry #hslot Harry #harry styles writing #harry styles masterlist #harry styles fic rec #harry styles x reader #harry styles x you #harry styles fluff #harry styles x y/n #erodsafishtacos masterlist #harrystylesfanfic #harry styles smut #husband!harry #harry styles husband #Instagram

[so-idialed-9]

Still processing my first time seeing Louis live last night. Holy shit he was close! Like three feet away.

He looked playful and relaxed. Bopping across the stage, messing about, looking at so many signs and people and interacting.

Idk how he manages all of that while singing. Never thought about it before I saw it in person and how constantly he does it. Giving so much to the fans.

There was a moment when he made eye contact with me and I thought I would feel overwhelmed or nervous but I just felt like a friend, trying to give him what he needed in the moment.

The show was so different from HSLOT, which I loved too. This was...shockingly intimate. Wide open. He shows everything on his face and in his body language. After years of media manufactured Louis, this was just jaw-dropping.

The crowd was different from other concerts - they weren't there to get the Louis experience - but to offer their hearts and energy to him. Anything he needed. As if we were helping him. And he was so humble and gentle about accepting. Which made both of us happy and satisfied. It was this incredible feedback loop. I've never experienced anything like it.

Edit - so I saw a gif post from the concert and it occurred to me that I kind of described a sort of dom/sub relationship maybe? - I didn't mean to and have not seen him that way before but it's not totally inaccurate.

I was involved with the rainbow lights project and in handing out pride flags. I handed out hundreds. And every single person was excited and grateful. I never had the slightest negative reaction. I even drafted people on the spot to help hand them out, and everyone was happy to help. My favorite was a mom with a young daughter, and the daughter took one but looked nervously at her mom. So I smiled reassuringly at the mom, who hadn't yet reached for one, and I just asked her, would you like one too? And she looked surprised, glanced at her daughter who was holding hers and desperately not looking at her, and still staring at her child, she said, yes thank you, and took one. It felt important.

His vocals were SO great, even better in person than any video. There's something about seeing him work for the notes that just...makes me emotional and proud of him.

I about fell over when I saw the stage lights flash rainbows through the second half of KMM. I still think we are not making a big enough deal over LOUD Louis putting rainbow lights in his show for the first time ever.

How it happened: I was on the far right of the venue on the main floor, 2 rows back from pit. I could see the entire left side of the stage. The bar lights had been mostly off during the show except for the big songs with lots of flashing lights.

I had stopped recording a few songs earlier. Then I saw the stage bar lights on the left begin to flash a acrolling rainbow pattern. My phone was in my pocket, so I figured I'd lost the chance to capture it. But they kept going.

I then had to get out my phone, unlock it, find the camera app, and then I accidentally tried to take photos and not videos. And it was still rainbowing, so I recorded it.

#im emotional #actual loml #louis tomlinson #solo lt #solo louis #ltwt22 #ltwt chicago #louis tomlinson world tour 2022 #louis tomlinson world tour #kmm #rainbow louis #my show #2.23.22 #2022 #louis is loud

[louis-in-red]

Top ten AFHF moments, Steph go!!!! ❤️

Hi Sea! As the rest of the Louies, I’m still processing the whole thing. I woke up feeling so proud of this person I may never meet, but somehow feels like a friend from my childhood who I am watching grow up into this amazing performer and singer.

Here are my top ten moments (to be honest the whole thing is my favourite thing in the world right now)

1. His voice at the beginning: hearing his talking voice after so long, was so important. This year was hard, almost zero content, no interviews… so just hearing him speak (…I understood how important people are) was healing. I could honestly spend hours listening him talk 🖤

2. Him interacting with the crowd with the Spanish fans at the Madrid show 🔥 he looked so in his element and so proud (I felt like a fucking God). Kudos to the fan who said Louis is the puto amo 💙

Credits to louisgalaxy for the gif

3. His little dance with Charlie when he arrives to film the Live From London Livestream 😭 I really like his relationship with Charlie and how Louis is always so silly with him. Plus, we get so see how Charlie is directing the whole thing which is HOT! Louis talking about how cool the livestreams are and a great opportunity for fans to see him for the first time… such a good soul that man 😔

Credits to Sanju for the gif 💙

4. His little feet when he is jamming with his guitar 🥲 also him talking about the lack of inspiration and how difficult this time has been not just for him but for everyone else… it felt so human

5. His excitement when speaking on the phone to Matt (I’m guessing it’s him) about the free concert. He said he wanted to be the first to doing one and being ahead of everyone else… 😫 plus he was so flirty, playing with his hair… 😮‍💨. I’m adding here as a fave bonus part, Louis being so involved in the whole process, choosing the venue, checking how the stage was going to be, also him being concern of respecting the distance with fans due to restrictions (the way he says Corona… 😳🤤)

Credits to Sanju for the gif 💙

6. His relationship with Helene, from seeing how they rehearsed together, to knowing they have been working this whole last year through video calls (when the media and “his close friend from the band” said he was just drinking beer and probably chilling)… to know he was working during all this time into improving his voice because he is a perfectionist… I LOVE HIMMSO MUCH!! ALSO! Louis just LISTENS, doesn’t he? Like you can see how he listens to Helene. She could probably give harsh feedback sometimes and he would take it in the most positive way, because he knows Helene only just wants the best for him and her feedback will only be constructive. Her being a huge important part of his life, not just as vocal coach but as part of his support system makes me so emotional 😩 Louis my god! I’m watching again those clips and I’m crying again 😭 (PS: who is John??? wtf 😩 that name has been mentioned way too many times now and I’m clowning)

7. His confidence through the whole show but specially in We Made It??? Like he went out there to WIN!! He gave his all from the beginning to the end. I have to say I’m wasn’t a fan of 7 (😳) because I didn’t really listened to a cleaned version (only the ones from Madrid)… but NOW??? I’m a FAN! The band was so SICK and so INTO IT! It was hot to watch! They really killed it and it was one of my favourite moments from the concert 🤤 kudos to Charlie for capturing Louis’ beautiful eyes during DLIBYH.

8. The fans and how they reacted to everything Louis did or say! Him saying it’s fucking unbelievable and that it’s only posible for the fans 😪😪😪 what the fuck I was worried about? 🥲 and the fans during CHANGE… I don’t think they were expecting that quality of a song and you could tell in their faces that he exceeded their expectations (kudos once again to Charlie for beautifully capture the relationship between Louis and the fans). It was cute that Louis said the song it’s name CHANGE and not CHANGES 🙂

Credits to setsfiretohistory for the gif

9. The band!!!! My GOD THEY ROCKED!!! They were so into it, they jammed through the whole thing and you could tell they really enjoyed it and that they love playing for Louis!! Steve was so 🔥🔥🔥 the drums were on FIRE!!! Michale and Isaac being a cute guitar duo during OTB and Matt being beautiful and cute during 7 just jamming and rocking 😫 Zak on the keyboards doing his little head movements 🥰 I don’t know what else to say I just love them and I love that Louis has them as a band. Kudos to the string ladies who sounded amazing and were so cool (drinking the encore shots)!!! I hope they go to tour with Louis 🥺

Credits to Sanju for the gif 💙

10. The after show moments: From the group hug (that shot did some magic as well), to his family and his best friends being there, from Helene being the most proud (crying because Louis sounded amazing) to Louis talking about how he can get lost in his head sometimes but it was different during the festival and that he trusted Helene saying he smashed it… I think he truly felt it! He knew he gave his all and since it’s been a year and a half since he had that feeling… maybe he was afraid he wasn’t going to be that good but now he knows he was the best he has ever been and he feels more confidente than ever. I can’t wait for next year when will get the tour (please let him tour 😭) and probably (hopefully) we’ll get more bts footage since Charlie will be there with him for some dates (I hope).

Credits to Manu for this gif 💙

Well… this was an emotional rollercoaster. I laughed, I cried, I was horny, I was sad, I was happy, I was proud… It was everything 😌😮‍💨 I’ll watch it again later 💙

#I love crying #Sea 💙 #thanks for this question!! I got to see it again just to remember which parts were my favourite #the away from home festival #Sanju you are my main gif provider 😳👉🏼👈🏼

[chaotic-bells]

@essercipertuttienonperse tagged me for this torture game. 😁

Put in bold your preferred song (live version), and then tag 3 people to play! (I will also do it like her though and just justify/comment underneath LOL I have Thoughts)

Best Cover: Through the Dark - Drag Me Down - 7 - Beautiful War - Little Black Dress

This was SO hard to decide and even then I couldn’t really chose. Through the Dark is just one of my favorite songs ever, not just 1D/Louis, and I think it’s such a Louis song and it’s one of the few 1D covers where I don’t miss the other boy’s voices at all. It’s so soft and hopeful and loving and it’s like getting a hug when you’re feeling down. I just can’t explain how much I love that Louis added this to his tour. But Emma is right and 1D covers are not really covers so I don’t ever really count them as such. And between 7 and Beautiful War, I just think Louis’ voice in Beautiful War is so amazing. He does that emotional thing where you just feel deep in your chest everything. (but I also wanted to add I love 7 and that is 100% the type of sound I imagine Louis would own completely, even if LT2 seems to be going in a different direction. It just fits him so well.)

Best Acoustic Song: Only The Brave - Perfect Now - Too Young

Too Young has been my favorite Walls song since forever (Perfect Now is a close, close second), and seeing it live just makes it even better. The way Louis will always have that soft, fond smile and close his eyes singing it... I also love the progression of the song and the guitar. It starts so soft and slow and then it picks up and when Louis goes “ooh, ooh, ohh, we were tooo young.” 🥺🥺🥺🥺

Best Rock Song: Kill My Mind - 7 - Fearless

Love how he has so much fun in this song. He seems extra proud of this song, like he realized his rock dreams by releasing it, or something. I love it. But also, shout out to Fearless guitar solo. 

Best Sad Song: Two of Us - Beautiful War - Change

Erm - Change is not sad? Should add Copy to this list, now that one is sad AF. But still, Two of Us is special. And I loved seeing it in the AFH concert, it really was a special moment. 

Best "Faith in the Future" Song: We Made It - Just Hold On - Through the Dark - DLIBYH

I love JHO - it has an amazing lyric and message, and the rock version is fantastic. 

Best Crowd Interaction: Always You - Defenceless - Fearless - Through the Dark

I agree with Emma - Walls is clearly the winner and it’s not on this list. 

Cover/Live Version That Should Get a Studio Version: Beautiful War - Copyx3 - Fearless - Drag Me Down - 7

I would LOVE so much if he did the studio version of the covers he chose. Oh, please Louis, do it. But I chose Fearless too because I feel like he should totally go for a two minutes guitar solo in his songs. Forget about radio friendly short songs, give us the guitar and drums and rock.

Song That Should Make It Out of the Setlist:

None - honestly, the only thing that was missing from the AFH setlist was Miss You. But also - I feel like he should rotate the covers? Like, not sure a 19 songs setlist is really doable night after night, but I also don’t want him to stop singing any of them.

Oh, for this one I’ll definitely tag more than 3 people. It’s a Louis’ tag game! I wanna know everyone’s opinions!! @whatagreatproblemtohave @evilovesyou @vintageumbroshirt @justalarryblog @whatevertearsyou @herefortommo @technicallysideacc @promisethatillnevertell @maybe-i-missyou @killmygoldenn @holyshit @arcticfoxsundays @counttoinfinityy @imbellarosa @dependsonwhospitching and everyone else who wants to do this! 😁 tag me, I wanna read all answers

#tag games

[liquorlipslouis]

This or That?Away From Home Festival Live Performance Version!

thank you @seasurfacefullofclouds1 for tagging me!!

It’s been 2 weeks since the AFH Streaming Event!!! Which means that everyone has been watching the concert or listening to audio rip offs (with artist’s permission 😌) everyday for the last 14 days (I sure have been!)

So now comes the time to expose your thoughts on the performance!

Put in bold your preferred song (live version), and then tag 3 people to play!

Best Cover: Through the Dark - Drag Me Down - 7 - Beautiful War - Little Black Dress

- still haunted by the very first time we saw louis sing beautiful war, i was in sync with the emotions he conveyed, will always be my favourite.

Best Acoustic Song: Only The Brave - Perfect Now - Too Young

- otb is a feeling. the atmosphere shifts when louis sings otb, his voice and his words envelope everyone who's watching - just like a security blanket; a safe space. even if you're sitting in the furthest corner of the earth and watching otb live via a shitty live stream it makes you feel proud and safe.

Best Rock Song: Kill My Mind - 7 - Fearless

- kmm will always be super special to me, being the first song after tou :( i love how louis enjoys this song and how reckless he gets on stage jumping off stage and such. i think when the tour finally happens kmm is going to give us dancer louis. fearless is the soundtrack to my life, can't imagine my life without her.

Best Sad Song: Two of Us - Beautiful War - Change

- one life for the two of us- very powerful line and i love those little laughs and chuckles of his during the performance. once again showing us his heart and strength, how much he values Jay and carries her with him in everything beyond the scope of his career. crying already.

Best “Faith in the Future” Song: We Made It - Just Hold On - Through the Dark - DLIBYH

- a total badass statement when he came on stage, first live show after everything, in his own festival which is completely curated by him and opened with "yeah we made it" in front of 1000s of his fans. yeah i love her

Best Crowd Interaction: Always You - Defenceless - Fearless - Through the Dark

- LOUDER!

Cover/Live Version That Should Get a Studio Version: Beautiful War - Copyx3 - Fearless - Drag Me Down - 7- Change

- please be merciful and give us the studio version louis.

Song That Should Make It Out of the Setlist: Habit (this is a joke, but if you have a song that you would like to see go, type it here):

- too young, little black dress, jho yes. please take it away. i also feel like he would take them away after lt2

brb going to rewatch the festival!

#rockstar louis tomlinson #away from home festival

[a-kiss-is-not-a-promise]

Top ten AFHF documentary moments, go! 💞

Thanks Dear Sea.

I loved the documentary and the concert so so much, and I can’t stop thinking about it, but choosing 10 moments it’s a bit difficult. So here they are, with no specific order:

1 – His big brain, the way he express himself and explain us what he want to do and how he wanted to do it. My god, I find his brain so sexy.

2 – His happiness singing, I couldn’t hold myself, I was looking at the screen with a big and silly smile on my face. And the way he pushed the crowd, I wanted to scream too. He is such a good entertainer.

3 – Helene, oh Helene, you are a blessing. Their interactions were so cute, she warmed my heart the way she talked to Louis, the way she reassured him, and he was also, so sweet, always an appreciative boy.

4 – His grandparents were also so sweet and supportive. When his nan said “he can’t wait to get out on his tour and we can’t wait to follow him”, “tonight is everything for him”, that was so emotive, and I almost cried, thinking on every hardship he endured in his personal and professional life.

5 - His band, they are so good, my boyfriend was like, oh this guy has some songs I like, but the band is absolutely fantastic and they really are.

6 – The shots moment, that was cute and emotive. Their joy was palpable; we could feel it behind the screens. And we could also feel they love and respect Louis. And the strings were so good too and they made the songs even better.

7 – The new song was a brilliant moment. The public was silent and emotional, I was too. And Copy, the beautiful Copy, loved to hear them.

8 – Fearless my beautiful fave, I loved you since the first time I heard you, but live you are on another level, and Michael solo is adrenaline to my soul. So good.

9 – The concert itself, the songs, the band, the strings, Louis voice, beautiful and clear. How can this man sing 20 songs, the way he did, I’m so proud of him, he worked hard and we can see it the way he delivered it. He should be very proud of himself.

10 – His reaction after the concert, the wall kick, that was so human and his words “I’ve got his lot behind me, who the fuck’s going to stop us”.

I’m so proud of Louis, and it was such a goooooooooood documentary and concert.

Loved it so much and love you Louis, so much, and fellow louies you are all bad asses and I’m very proud to be a Louie.

I’m currently working and hearing the concert one more time :)

[old1ddude]

Harry Styles, Seattle

My Experience and Perceptions 

My daughter and I got in line for security at about 7:15.  Ever mindful of demographics I took note of the crowd.  Mostly (75% maybe?) women somewhere from late teens to twenty something.  I was encouraged to see quite a few dads in line as well as women closer to my age.  Many of the dads were with their wives, but did not appear to have daughters near them.  (Either they were hanging back, giving their daughters some space, or they were actual Harry fans.)  There appeared to be a good number of young men, certainly more than in my demographic.  Many were obviously with girlfriends many alone, or maybe with female “just friends.”  (Just my gut from what I saw.)  I saw a group of 4 young guys in line ahead of us - nothing about them clued me as to their sexual orientation.  I only saw a few guys who were very obviously gay™ (I don’t claim to have great “gaydar.”)

Once inside, we decided to get our merch, even though it meant probably missing the first song or two from Musgraves.  My daughter and I were chatting about the shirts on display and the young man in front of us turned and answered a question we were asking ourselves.  He was very nice and seemed very gay, or camp, in the way he spoke.  Everyone we came in contact with seemed to be taking “treat people with kindness” to heart.  The whole atmosphere felt warm, inviting, safe and friendly.  I had planned to get the Treat People With Kindness shirt, but they were out of XXL. 

I ended up buying a black shirt with this picture on the front and a list of all his tour stops on the back.  (Disregard special guest Warpaint and everything below that.)  I can’t find a pic of the actual shirt, but I quite like it.  Those hollow body Gibsons are almost as pretty as he is!

We got some Harry Styles guitar picks from the Seattle Children’s hospital table.  I think the people staffing the table were from the hospital foundation - they were very happy and effusive about Harry’s generosity.  (We’ll give a few picks to my son.  He likes Harry’s music and plays guitar.)  They were also surprised at how many fans knew all about his support of a local charity in each tour city.  My daughter and I had our picture taken by the charity table, in front of a big yellow banner and holding a “Treat People With Kindness” sign.  We were giddy, excited and soaking the whole experience in.

I have seen some very credible, pro Harry blogs lament that he has monetized TPWK, by selling merch with the slogan.  I understand their concerns, but I think the only way Harry can cheapen TPWK is by failing to live it.  From everything I see, he lives it as well as any mere human could be expected to.  I think it’s lovely we have a chance to literally buy into TPWK.

Kacey Musgraves has a pretty voice and was very pleasant to listen to.  (I do not care for much country twang, her’s is subtle.)  Follow Your Arrow is a very nice, positive song, but it is a bit of a sermon.  I feel the real power of art is in evoking emotion, empathy, or telling a compelling story, not sermonizing.  I shouldn’t complain.  I just feel her message would be stronger if the song told a story.  I quite liked the song she did featuring a trumpet.  My daughter thinks that may have been a cover??  

For fellow oldsters, or people who value their hearing, I highly recommend:

This is the brand I got (black case for me and red for my daughter) but there are many similar to chose from.  I tried pulling one out a few times and the volume was punishing.  These cut the decibels without the muffled sound from normal hearing protection.  Harry sounded BETTER and I could hear HIM better with the plugs in!  We used the “High” protection filters.

The few empty seats we observed earlier were filling in.  From what I saw, very few spots went unused.  We were amped when the screen dropped and the Rubik’s Cube animation started.  When the screen finally lifted, revealing iconic, wide leg, white trousers, everyone was cheering on their feet.  (Seats were only for the opener, I saw no one sitting after Harry appeared.)  He was absolutely magnetic.  The staging and lights were beautifully done.  Nothing felt cheesy, or gimmicky.  I can’t imagine Harry doing a show with dancers, or any of the normal pop/rock/etc. gimmicks and distractions.  Everything felt just right.  Everything felt, looked and sounded real and authentic.  (I always loved 1D’s rejection of the gimmicks too.  I love Liam, but he’s wrong on that one!  Who cares about the noise, narratives and PR?  This was Harry - a real and genuine side of Harry.) 

Harry’s voice was incredible live.  My daughter, who was only a casual fan, wished he had done a few more of his big, high notes.  I’m fine with him preserving those vocal cords - I would kill to protect them.  I tried to observe more about the band, but mostly I didn’t want to take my eyes off Harry.  The screen was nice for capturing his facial expressions, but I was finally seeing him with my own eyes.  I’ve been watching him on screen for years!  The interaction between Harry and Mitch was cute.  I think Harry is slowly turning Mitch into more of a performer, rather than only a highly skilled guitarist.  The blue-green lights during JaLBoYH were lovely.  I wish I had known about them ahead of time.  The quality of sound for the band and Harry’s vocals were positively exceptional.  There are precious few performers in this world who can equal it.

We were looking directly down at Harry’s profile when he moved to the B stage.  It felt a lot closer than I would have thought from the seating map.  Harry looked our way and we all (in my general area) excitedly waved, but there was no eye contact, or acknowledgment, despite my very bright Hawaiian shirt!  (It’s okay, I knew it was a long shot given the distance and relative darkness of the crowd.)  He was in fine form for IICF, pausing before Louis’ part and a long, dramatic shushing!  I had a bandanna in my pocket, in case I got emotional, but the whole atmosphere was so happy and warm, even during his heavy songs.  

A straight couple was sitting directly in front of my daughter and I.  The boyfriend was FULLY invested in the concert and videoed many songs on his phone.  As I said earlier, I didn’t notice anyone disengaged, from where I was sitting.  

When Harry moved back to the main stage, his audience interaction game kicked in.  I’m sure you’ve seen the gifs and clips already.  He was charming, delightful and sassy.  He was really sweet to a young girl (14) at her fist concert.  The half birthdays aren’t a thing bit was gold.  The one who found their soulmate.  Charlie’s gay birthday.  It was all delightfully sweet and entertaining. 

There were a lot of tiny rainbow flags in the pit and a few throughout the stadium.  I saw several women wearing LBGT+ shirts, of various types, in my area.  The whole atmosphere felt very safe and welcoming to all.  Harry ENTHUSIASTICALLY waved several flags during WMYB (I’m sure you’ve seen the videos.)  Harry’s message of kindness and love was palpable, but the show didn’t feel political, or heavy handed, to me.  (I think that strengthens his message and appeal.)

My daughter loved What Makes You Beautiful and Kiwi most of all.  She’s never been a hard core 1D fan, but always loved WMYB.  Kiwi is her favorite from his album.  Seeing him go so hard for Kiwi live really was a treat.  I loved the whole experience very much.  Standouts for me were:  The dramatic open with Only Angel (screen coming up - the whole experience.)  MMitH isn’t my favorite on the album, but hearing it live was beautiful - Mitch played the 12 string acoustic which had the most beautiful sound (other than Harry’s voice.)  Sweet Creature and If I Could Fly on the B stage went directly to my heart.  The audience interaction was pure gold.  The heartfelt gratitude he expressed several times.  Kiwi live really was a sight.

This was supposed to be a brief recap - guess I got carried away!  :)

#Harry #Seattle

[ssfoc]

Honestly at this point, even with all those inconsistencies surrounding bg and the mere fact that Louis Tomlinson is a gay man, for me it all comes down to one single moment during OTRA that was caught on camera. It’s way back in March 2015. We literally see Harry turn his back to the entire crowd, look at his belly, grab his belly as if he was pregnant with THE most angry/frustrated/dissappointed look on his face, and then nervously shake his head as if he’s trying to make it all go away. +

+ this action does not go unnoticed by Louis, obviously. Footage of this can be seen in freddieismyqueen’s Part 1 OTRA Tour moments if I recall. Like, there’s not a single fucking reason on earth for this weirdness to have happened, unless… also I want to add that we still have Louis saying “It is not real” in June 2015. Now that fans are so tired of fighting, it’s good to remember Louis actually did that. And it definitely wasn’t something he could repeat every single show, he did that once+And he hoped for us to catch up on it. It was a one time act, an act of bravery from the band, with Liam supporting him, as he always does when it comes to Harry&Louis in general._________________

Hi!

Thanks for the message. I watched the first two OTRA compilations, but I couldn’t see the Harry grabbing the belly moment you referred to. Does anyone have this footage? Or maybe I missed it?

Freddieismyqueen videos: OTRA Part 1https://youtu.be/bOGojh0YzSUOTRA Part 2https://youtu.be/CwEMmZd5ZtoOTRA Part 3https://youtu.be/Tde8KDEyskU

Louis tossing a toy doll and saying it’s not real: https://youtu.be/JsX2iX5ybzY

Remember that at the end of that OTRA concert, the closing music was Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean.

I remember going to OTRA and feeling sad that Harry and Louis didn’t have any interactions, but looking at the videos, there were many covert and quick interactions. There’s no explanation for the mirroring when they were back to back, for instance. There’s no reason for Louis to get water for Harry; such a small thing isn’t noticed by anyone. Liam knew very well what the AIMH tweet is. There was no reason for him to read this sign. There was no reason for Harry to look at Louis when singing, “I’m in love with you” during “Little Things”; not once but repeatedly. And to change the lyric to “And all his little things,” which he also did repeatedly (including at my concert). Harry and Louis could communicate with a glance, without words. Look how giddy with happiness Harry was, singing Gloria Gaynor’s iconic (gay) anthem, “I Will Survive,” after the Eleanor break up. Look how happy they all were!

2016 was honestly a terrible year. Harry’s “lonely buffet for one” IG post was the saddest picture.

Nothing was like a One Direction concert— the closest thing to pure happiness. Maybe someday we’ll experience it again. Despite all the BS from the powers that be in 2015, Harry and Louis were still good, and I believe they still are.

#HL #OTRA

[rainydawgradioblog]

A Conversation: The Brook and The Bluff

On a street corner outside of the Columbia City Theater, an unsuspecting door opens to The Brook and The Bluff mid sound check circled around a microphone crooning an acoustic version of “Father McKenzie” off their new album First Place. For a moment, I’m transported into their world -- one full of intoxicating vocal harmonies and intimacy. Lead vocalist Joseph Settine is wearing an Auburn University t-shirt, an homage to where Settine and guitarist Alec Bolton established the beginnings of the band. Prior to their move to Nashville in 2018, Settine and Bolton rounded out the four man band with percussionist John Canada (whom they met after a gig back in Alabama) and bassist Fred Lankford (a neighbor of Alec in their hometown of Mountain Brook).  

Promptly after soundcheck, the quartet and I peel off upstairs to a quiet room upstairs for a conversation about everything from their favorite cover song to realizations amidst their first national headline tour. It’s been 11 days since they’ve released their first full length project, First Place. The album acts as a canvas for both Settine’s exposition on past relationships as well as the band’s own exploration of their sound. In many ways, the album represents a step forward in the band’s maturation, both sonically and stylistically following their recent relocation to Nashville.

“If you’re not making something new, then what’s the point. You’re just recycling stuff you’ve heard before.”

At times, First Place sounds groovier with tracks such as “Shelby” and “Halfway Up” compared to their self-titled EP, The Brook and The Bluff. On the other hand, the project sounds just as warm and intimate with the addition of John Mayer-esque songs such as “Lover’s Rock.” On the track “I Could Never Draw,” Settine’s utilization of autotune is a perfect tip of the hat to one of his musical inspirations in Frank Ocean. While The Brook and The Bluff draws inspiration from other artists, Alec describes how, even with outside musical influences, “If you're not making something new, then what's the point. You're just recycling stuff you've heard before.” The choral backgrounds and performances of the four band members, which differentiate the band sonically, both act as a common thread that weave the swirling collage of work that is First Place together.

The album itself represents Settine’s process of putting past relationships into perspective. While tracks such as “Everything Is Just a Mess” speak to events 4-5 years in the past, “Off the Lawn” depicts experiences that are seemingly fresh. There hasn’t necessarily been a timeline for Settine’s revisitation of feelings of the past. “When that relationship ended, I didn't want to process it. And then sometimes when I would wake up and there'd be a line in my head, it was like, ‘Oh, this is like something telling me that I need to look back, you know. For every song, it could be different because maybe that urge is more pressing.’” he says.

It’s getting to be evening, and as the conversation wraps up and the boys ready themselves to head next door to the Columbia Ale House, I can’t help but ask Settine about the new Frank Ocean releases. The consensus landed on the fact that Frank Ocean, indeed, has too much success to not brag about it.

Alexander Wen: You guys just came from Salt Lake City? I looked on your instagram and all I saw was a bunch of people sleeping in the car, with the location tag being the Oregon Trail.

The Brook and The Bluff: The actual computer game. Yeah, it was a long day. A trick we learned is to leave early so you're driving through most of the day. When it gets dark, that's when it feels a lot longer. We left at 6:45 in the morning, or something like that. It was beautiful, mountains and stuff everywhere.

AW: This being your first time coming to the Northwest and California as a headliner, what’s been the main difference between this tour and supporting other bands? I know you guys came this March to support Ripe on their tour.

TBATB: I mean it's different in that obviously as an opener there's not as much pressure on you. You don’t have to worry about bringing the crowd. With Ripe, we had full rooms regardless of whether we brought people out. So this one is more honest, but it feels cool. The upside being that it is your show you get to tailor it. We get to play our own set, and we’ve made a show for this specific time and all those kinds of things. With Gripe, basically, they would set up seven people for their soundcheck and then we'd have to squeeze in the little tiny pockets on stage. There are trade offs for sure, and honestly the pressure of having our own show is kind of fun because people come for the songs they want to hear. And we’re going to play it for them.

“But honestly, my favorite thing that Alec used to ever play together was tribute by Tenacious D. It was the most fun. Every single time.”

AW: In the beginning, when it was just Alec and Joe, you guys started with a lot of acoustic covers, and then you started like thinking about writing original content. Do y’all still like to rewind the clock and play acoustic covers during your shows? Or is that something of your past?

TBATB: We like to do that. It's usually on a little old microphone that we have. We'll gather around and sing three or four songs in the middle of every set we do. It's a little acoustic section. It’s kind of like a throwback to how it started. We do like including some covers.

Joseph Settine: When we first wrote, it was just us two so there were some songs that were acoustic. Even on this album, Hallways was written acoustically before it became this full band arrangement. We'll play that one that way and then we’ll play it acoustically.

AW: If you could go back to like the archives, what’s one cover that you just instinctively remember playing. I guess, what’s one song that you love playing, whether it be acoustically or cover-wise?

JS: A little bit weird, but always, the really really drunk kids at the very end of the night, would always want to hear silly songs. But honestly, my favorite thing that Alec used to ever play together was  Tribute by Tenacious D. It was the most fun. Every single time. And I think it was because the first time we played it,  neither one of us had played it together before. And then we hit that vocal part. Literally perfect, first time we played it together...It was tailored to drunk college kids then. I would say now it's a little different. If we were doing it now and it was cover sets for what we  wanted to play, I think my favorite thing that Alec and I have played together is Harvest Moon by Neil Young. I love that song.

AW:  What's your guys’ experience in seeing your fans and the people who are coming out to the tour. Do you adapt to what their energy and how they interact with you?

TBATB: It's a crazy feeling when people show up. I feel like it's been a slow process from playing for people from where we’re from where it was all like friends. But in the past, it'd be a big crowd of all of our friends. Now, we’re slowly growing out of where we grew up in Birmingham and Alabama. Now coming to a city like this where I don't know anybody, I'll see whoever is in the crowd tonight. I will never have met anyone before, so they don't have the pretense of having to like my music because they know me, or feel like they have to. But the jump from friends to fans has been pretty cool.

AW: When did when did you start feeling that jump?

TBATB: Maybe recently. It started regionally for sure. Even when we play in Atlanta, and have 60 people show up. The cool thing for us is going back to Auburn where we all went to college. And now we don't have anybody that's still in school there but we play for 400 people. I feel like it's been slowly growing since the beginning. We've hit periods of like more exponential growth when we released Halfway Up at the beginning of this year. We saw a huge jump in different markets. It seems like every time we play a live show for a bunch of friends they bring their friends, and we usually end up turning a lot of those people into fans. They go home and listen to our music. It's been a lot of word of mouth. It's been a really big factor in the growth.

AW: I've seen that you guys have performed at a ton of Sofar Sounds concerts in Dallas or Chicago or New York. What's been your specific experience with one-off concerts or shows that aren't necessarily structured as a tour?

TBATB: We use Sofar as our first time going to cities that aren’t our hometown or surrounding towns to have an audience. Maybe an immediate audience of like, like 75-200 people. It was a really good way for us to go to St Louis for the first time, and play for 80 people when we otherwise couldn't have done that. So we use Sofar as a way to start touring. We would string them together on the East Coast and in the Midwest. We would hopefully be able to get to a point where we could book our own shows like this. The stuff that we did with Sofar helps because some of the tickets we sold for this, were people come back from from the Sofar shows.

AW: In a previous interview with Sofar Sounds in Dallas, you were asked the question, what food would you describe your band as. This was before you guys had released your current project..if I need a jog your memory you guys responded with fusion BBQ. Is answer still correct, or do you have a new answer?

John Canada: I don't think it would be barbecue, we’re much cleaner than barbecue now. Maybe sushi.

Alec Bolton: To me, almost bitter sweet, almost like a tart

Fred Lankford: Maybe more savory and sweet

JC: We’re talking about the duality of man

JS: I guess the answer is going to be sushi, like, really good sushi.

AB: What’s something that’s smooth, like a souffle, good and hot, but not like a burger.

JC: Let’s just go with sushi.

AW: One thing that you guys also have talked about specifically is the question of “Have you guys felt like you've made it?”. Y’all have said that you don't have a specific time where you’ve thought you’ve made it. That it’s more so baby steps or small steps that you’re looking forward to. Fast forward to now, in the midst of things, What does that next step look like for you within the realm of this current tour or after the tour?

JC: I feel like especially nowadays the whole idea of “making it” is really just baby steps on a slope. There's things that can happen and it can make it go fast, but there's times where it will go pretty slow. But if we spend five years touring the country, and keep on playing bigger and bigger clubs, by the time we're playing thousand cap rooms in every city, you could say you’ve made it. Because you're making a living playing music, but there's so many people who would think, “well what about 20,000”, you know, but based off of where we are, we are making a living doing music. But barely. One thing that Jason Mraz said that has stuck in my mind for a long time is he said, “When I first started playing music, if I could make a living playing music, everything on top of that would be a bonus.”. So that’s how I think about it.

AW: From your songwriting perspective with First Place, you’ve spoken about how the subject matter is mostly from a relationship 4-5 years ago. When you look to write, do you try to keep distance between when things happen and when you write about it, or could you write about something that feels like a fresh wound?

JS: With the album I was trying to do so much reflection and basically trying to figure out how to live or how to get back into the place where I was in that relationship and trying to get that relationship back. A lot of the album was reflection and at the same time was, I think subconscious conscious processing...It’s like the tip of an iceberg, so when I write that one line, all of a sudden I’m right back in the place that I was three or four years ago.

AW: Could you give an overview of what went into the album art? There are motifs such as the sea, or even the pastel blue background that both appear lyrically. But there are also images like the golden gate bridge and birds that don’t necessarily show up in the album.

JS: They’re actually all pictures that I've taken on tour with my film camera. I think it kind of ties into this idea that a lot of the songs came from and are centered around this reflection that I did in the past couple of years. It was like a little microcosm of the relationship that I was in on this trip to Europe. I think the way that album photos tie into that is another theme of travel. I was trying to find something in a different continent that was not in front of us when we lived in America. I think that the collage of personal photos kind of also ties into that. And then the whole personal nature of the songs.

AW: Since moving to Nashville, you’ve talked about how you’ve met producers and have had more opportunities in general. Do you think, being settled in Nashville, you’ll start to draw more inspiration from Nashville rather than Birmingham?

JC: I feel like it's so music is so global now,  we all listen to the same stuff, wherever we live. Lyrically, experiences too.

JS: Yeah, and actually moving back to the processing question, I know I want to go back to that because it my thought wasn't complete. But I think that the album was my way of processing who I was. During that time, I put a lot of it away. When that relationship ended, I didn't want to process it. And then there would be days when I would wake up and there'd be a line in my head. It was like, “Oh, this is like something telling me that I need to look back.”. So for every song, it could be different because maybe that maybe that urge is more pressing. With Off the Lawn, when I wrote that it had just happened but it was something where I immediately knew I had to write. I've grown a little bit now, I'm not 22, I'm 26 and I know that it's not good to push things away for a little while.

FL: I think, yes, the environment internally, will have a big effect on it. The studio we recorded the album and had a huge impact yeah the way it sounded, just like the person we were working with too. So I think we're whoever we record the next project will have a big impact on it.

AW: Finally, what's one thing that the world may not know about The Brook and The Bluff that you’d like them to know? The floor is yours.

FL: I'll say this, We all are trying to not take ourselves too seriously. And I guess I guess what we would want people to know is that we're like human beings just like you. And the reason I even say that is because as a music lover, I’m really prone to idolizing the musicians that I love. Now, becoming a musician and getting to meet all these fans it's just like,“Oh, you're just like me.”.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and brevity.

#interview TheBrookandTheBluff