Remember when the pandemic forced all those 2020 concerts to move to 2022? Those delayed shows are rolling out now, including Louis Tomlinson’s long-sold-out concert Saturday night at the Pageant.
Originally scheduled for July 2020, the English pop-rock singer who rose to fame as part of One Direction was finally able to make good on his St. Louis date. Fans started lining up outside the Pageant, in freezing temperatures, the night before in order to lock in prime positions near the stage.
Tomlinson opened the show with “We Made It,” from his 2020 debut album, “Walls,” and that song choice seemed to sum up the sentiment of the delayed tour finally getting underway. Fans were clearly overwhelmed by Tomlinson’s long-anticipated presence.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment, specifically thinking what it might be like," he told the screaming crowd. "Anyone else waiting for this gig? I got a good feeling about it.”
He later added: “St. Louie, it feels (expletive) good to be in a place that’s my namesake.”
Accompanied by a five-piece band on a simple stage with little more than a back wall of lighting, Tomlinson kept the energy high, a task that seemed easy enough considering the crowd's built-in excitement.
“Already I’m starting to feel like it might be the loudest show,” Tomlinson said.
While the unassuming Tomlinson may not be as big or buzzy as his One Direction comrade Harry Styles (who sold out the much larger Enterprise Center in 2021), he's doing his own thing — and it works. It’s doubtful Tomlinson will play venues the size of the Pageant after this tour.
His 90-minute set leaned heavily on “Walls,” with songs such as “Too Young,” “Two of Us,” “Habit,” “Always You,” “Don’t Let It Break Your Heart" and “Fearless,” catchy if occasionally disposable pop that left the crowd swooning and singing along.
Tomlinson gave his fans the One Direction they needed, embracing his roots with three songs spread throughout the show: “Drag Me Down,” “Little Black Dress” and “Through the Dark,” the latter surfacing in the encore.
With just one album under his belt, he not only filled out the set with 1D songs, but with a few covers and a collaboration. He called his take on Kings of Leon’s “Beautiful War” one of his favorite moments on the tour and embraced a rock turn with Catfish and the Bottlemen’s “7,” inviting audience members to sing along.
He also treated the crowd to “Just Hold On,” which he recorded with DJ-producer Steve Aoki.
After an abrupt close to the title track, “Walls,” followed by some awkward dead time, Tomlinson and the band bounced back for an encore that included “Only the Brave” and “Kill My Mind.”
Southern California band Sun Room opened the show.
Photos by Jon Gitchoff.
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Tony winner André De Shields, who plays King Lear, performs during opening night of "King Lear" in Forest Park on Friday, June 4, 2021. The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival production runs nightly through June 27 excluding Mondays. Photo by Jon Gitchoff
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Luke Combs, Louis Tomlinson, Erykah Badu, Fall Out Boy and more must-see June concerts
By Kevin C. Johnson | May 24, 2023
In a month full of high-profile twang, Americana, country and alt-country, you can also look forward to a farewell concert by the Dead & Company; the return of country pop queen Shania Twain; another round of cool vibes from neo-soul goddess Erykah Badu; and some guaranteed intense screams at Louis Tomlinson’s show.
Louis Tomlinson performs for a sold-out crowd Feb. 5, 2022, at the Pageant. Photo by Jon Gitchoff
Louis Tomlinson
When 7 p.m. June 9 • Where St. Louis Music Park, 750 Casino Center Drive, Maryland Heights • How much $39-$99 • More info ticketmaster.com
Former One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson returns to the St. Louis area with his “Faith in the Future World Tour.” His fans’ screams are guaranteed to be deafening. The tour also features the Academic and Snarls.
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The Pageant, St Louis Missouri June 28 2013 📸Jon Gitchoff
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