Louis Tomlinson Mows Down MGM Music Hall at Fenway with Giant Rooks [Photos]

Louis Tomlinson performed two back-to-back sold-out nights at Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway this Monday and Tuesday. These were some of the last chances to see the former One Direction star before he heads out to continue his “Faith in the Future World Tour” in Europe next month. It appeared many of his fans attended both nights as several concertgoers walked in with their new merch from the previous show. The crowd was what you would expect from this heartthrob: lots of teenage girls with ear-piercing screams hoping to be noticed by young Louis.

I arrived for Louis’ second opener, Giant Rooks, a German band who I had previously heard on TikTok when they, along with AnnenMayKantereit, put out their own flavor of “Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne Vega. I had never heard their other music before, but it was right up my alley. I listened to them the whole way home after the show. Their lead singer, Frederik Rabe, was incredibly energetic, covering every inch of the stage with his presence. His crew matched his style in all-black outfits, each different than the next but all with a “cool guy” flair. The group seemed to be having as much fun as their audience. They threw guitar picks at the attendees, who threw them bracelets and other small gifts and even encouraged the exchange. I came away from the experience with a slew of songs to add to my playlists.

Louis Tomlinson came out to extravagant stage lighting with several differently oriented screens above him, each sharing abstract graphics. The stage was covered in smoke illuminated by the lights around the singer. He started the set off with “The Greatest” while hundreds of fans screamed every word. My only complaint would be that the crowd was almost too loud to hear the man himself, but I suppose, as an artist, that would be a true compliment. The crowd only got louder throughout the night, reaching its apex with his cover of “Night Changes” from his former band, One Direction. I personally enjoyed his mid-set cover of “505” by one of my favorite bands, the Arctic Monkeys. The stage remained dynamic throughout his set, with different light fixtures dropping in and pyrotechnics lighting up here and there. Louis ended the night with an encore of “Saturdays,” “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” and “Silver Tongues.”

I’m not a huge fan of the typical “boy band” artists, but Louis has proven me completely wrong. The production value was fantastic, and the performance was spectacular. This is a show I would see again without a doubt.

Louis Tomlinson (w/ Giant Rooks) @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway (Boston, MA) on July 25, 2023

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