Having been to a couple of concerts now since the start of the pandemic, we've always said how the live music experience was more about the palpable energy and adrenaline from the crowd and the connection you share with the artist on stage than anything else. It's an hour or so where we're all united, heartbeats synchronised with the thumping bass and thousands of voices chanting the same song. For Louis Tomlinson's return to Manila, it was that and so much more. 

On Saturday (16 July), the British singer-songwriter took over Smart Araneta Coliseum as part of his Walls world tour, marking one of the first major international headlining concerts in the Philippines since early 2020. While the beginning of the show was shrouded by crowded lines and a 40-minute delay, the rest of the night was defined by a sea of colourful lights, enthusiastic screams, and a dozen 'Thank you's.

Louis emerged on stage in a cloud of smoke and bright red lights, kicking off the eagerly anticipated show with the fitting 'We Made It'.

The 'Two Of Us' act released his debut album, Walls just two months before the entire world went into lockdown. Before then, the singer was met with personal hardships and public doubts about whether his solo career would live up to the success of his boyband, One Direction. So, the cathartic track felt like the perfect statement of how far he's come and how much he's overcome. 

"I f**king love the Philippines," was a sentiment Louis echoed throughout the whole night and it was clear why. The packed stadium, which only saw a handful of empty seats, returned the love he gave in tenfolds, sang every song back with so much intensity, and put on a dazzling display of lights for the singer to enjoy. The crowd gave the 'Habit' singer the perfect playground to give it his all and he undoubtedly delivered. 

Louis filled the air with his raw and strong vocals, unravelling his well-loved tracks in all their glory. Armed with only a live band and a mic stand, his music and talent took centre stage and you couldn't help but be in awe of his undeniable stage presence.

You particularly have to note Louis' unwavering connection with his fans. While it's all pretty evident online with his interactions and conversations with his fans on social media, it was something else to see it happen in real life.

The 'Defenceless' act had an incredible power to make a huge venue feel so small. From the moment he came on stage, the singer connected with the crowd like they were his hometown mates he hasn't seen in a while. He read some signs, had conversations about cheeseburgers and spinning lights, and flipped them off (which has become a sign of endearment between him and his fans). For that hour or so, it really felt like it was us and him and that's all that mattered. 

Louis performed songs off Walls, including 'Don't Let It Break Your Heart', 'Always You', 'Fearless', and 'Only The Brave' as well as One Direction favourites like 'Drag Me Down' and 'Little Black Dress' and unreleased tracks like 'Changes' and 'Copy Of A Copy Of A Copy'.

Each performance showcased his vocal prowess and enchanting stage presence, leaving fans with a new appreciation for his music. His songs are perfect for those rainy days where you sit in bed and feel every emotion embedded in his lyrics, but they take a new life when performed on stage. No longer were they just declarations of his heartache and pain but now a full house celebration of strength and resilience. 

As we reached the end of the night, Louis couldn't help but get sentimental as he thanked everyone for their support (for probably the nth time that night) before closing out his show with encore performances of One Direction's 'Through The Dark' and 'Kill My Mind'. 

"I'm a lad from a pretty small town, that has recently been made [a] city, called Doncaster. And now I'm in the f**king Philippines, that's all thanks to all of you. So, one more time I wouldn't be here without all of you, thank you."

Much like the artist Louis is himself, it was a night full of love, playful banter, and excitement. Coupled with the unmatched adrenaline that lingered on as even as he left the stage, it was a show to remember. According to the singer, it might be a while until he can come back to Manila again but if there's anything that we learned from his concert, he'll definitely be worth the wait. 

Setlist:

We Made It
Drag Me Down (One Direction)
Don't Let It Break Your Heart
Two of Us
Always You
Change
7 (Catfish and The Bottleman)
Fearless
Only the Brave
Habit
Copy of A Copy of A Copy
Defenceless
Beautiful War (Kings Of Leon)
Little Black Dress (One Direction)
Walls
Through The Dark (One Direction)
Kill My Mind