Harry Styles Kicks off 30-Night Madison Square Garden Residency with Infectious Energy
Written by Sofia Treviño
As opener Jamie xx mixed his last track, band members walked on stage, adding horns to the bumpy DJ set. The word “Together” circled across the screens, and excitement coursed through the arena.
Harry Styles strutted on stage in a white blazer and transitioned to the groovy “Dance No More,” straight off the opening act. A cacophony of roaring women echoed across Madison Square Garden. For two hours, Styles kept the audience like fish on a line, hooked on to every lyric, dance, and beat.
On August 26, Styles kicked off his “Together, Together” 30-night residency at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, reeling in the audience through his charismatic charm and techno-leaning set. He played his latest album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. for the first time in the U.S., sharing his love for DJing and remixes while giving a show to remember.
British producer Jamie xx (of the band The xx) set the tone for the night, mixing percussive sounds and hollow electronic keys. A camera focused on the pit, giving the audience their spotlight to dance along and feel the rhythm.
Styles’ seamless slide-in kept the flowing energy moving. He followed up the opening song with music from previous eras, diving first into “Carolina,” from his debut album. Jazzy saxophones blared for “Music for a Sushi Restaurant,” and Styles flirted with the crowd, singing, “You know I love you, babe.”
As he danced and ran across the center oval stage, his white tie jumped around with him. Fans had swapped the “Harry’s House” era of feather boas for ties and sequins, matching the pop star’s uniform.
A few songs in, Styles paused to reflect on the opening night of the residency. He shared a story about his first performance at MSG with One Direction at age 18, when he jumped out of his car, kissed the ground, and declared that he’d made it. Though no one would catch him kissing floors now, Styles joked, he said, “It is not lost on me what it means to play here... I am thrilled to know that even then it was not lost on me either."
Styles checked off Fine Line-era pop hits “Adore You” and “Watermelon Sugar.” A reworked version of “Satellite” brought in crisp snares and bumping bass. Even with the remix, Styles kept his famous “Satellite” stomps, tapping his feet along to each drum hit at the build-up.
Styles brought an infectious upbeat rhythm with “Are You Listening Yet?” With a set of backup dancers, Styles invited the audience to move with him as pounding drums rang.
Having not played MSG since 2022 for a 15-night residency, fans clearly missed the global star’s performances, most notably during “Kiwi.” The stadium exploded into screams as the fan-favorite song blared, and the concrete floor literally shook with the audience’s dancing and excited jumping.
The rock-ish track came with a twist, remixed with shaking percussion as Styles swayed his hips back and forth. “It’s New York, baby, always jacked up,” the crowd proudly screamed back at Styles before he broke into high kicks with his bandmate, Pauli Lovejoy.
Continuing with “American Girls” and “As It Was,” Styles then slowed things down and brought out an orchestra of strings. On a piano, Styles softly cooed “Carla’s Song,” a hopeful track about the limitless potential in life. Saxophones and trumpets paralleled his raspy voice.
The strings bled into “Coming Up Roses,” adding an angelic feel to the arena. A chorus of “la la las” from Styles and the crowd filled the intimate space. Styles took the time to thank the audience for the loving community and shared lessons he learned from his almost three-year break from touring.
“I hope you take this and remember that when the song is finished, when the show is finished, when the tour is finished, it’s all waiting there for you,” he said, referencing the lyric from “Carla’s Song.”
He then called out inspiring artists that came before him, such as Dolly Parton, a music and pop culture icon who passed away the night before on August 25. Her recorded track, “I Will Always Love You,” filled the room, and fans lit up the space with their flashlights.
The sentimental track “Sign of the Times” came after. Styles belted along with backup singers' soothing voices, and orchestral strings haunted the track.
In emotional whiplash, Styles played one last DJ set to end off the night, turning nobs and pulsing with the beat. A techno layer bled into the bouncing bass of “Aperture,” which transformed the arena into a house show. Blinding lights circled the stadium. In pure bliss and joy, fans sang along with Styles, repeating the mantra, “We belong together.”
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