Louis Tomlinson is leveling up and he’s starting with a new album and a tour that sold out a stop at Arizona Financial Theatre on Monday. The singer was joined by a killer backing band, along with openers Andrew Cushin and The Snuts for a high-energy evening of rock ‘n’ roll.
Acoustic musician Andrew Cushin strolled onstage right on time to get everyone warmed up for the rest of the night. His affable British charm delighted the sea of mostly female fans and his compelling vocals held everyone spellbound. Made of self-deprecating humor and a slightly sheepish air, Cushin strummed his guitar to “Dream for a Moment”, “You’ll Be Free” and more before exiting to thunderous applause and countless new fans.
Fresh from their Las Vegas nightclub extravaganza, The Snuts shuffled onstage in the throes of vehicular issues that nearly derailed their Arizona appearance and perhaps a touch of a hangover. Regardless, the Scottish quartet gave the crowd a rollicking set that included “The Rodeo” and “Somebody Loves You”. They weren’t onstage long but they certainly made an impression on the excitable audience.
When Louis Tomlinson released Faith in the Future in late 2022, it marked a stronger era for the former One Directioner. That strength lent itself to larger scale stage production, a heavy rocking live band and an uncontainable love from millions of fans. The Arizona section of the fanbase showed up and showed out on Monday with their handmade signs and ear splitting screams every time Tomlinson so much as smiled. And really who could blame them when his grin lit up the entire theatre?
He admitted to feeling under the weather but still gave stellar performances of “Kill My Mind”, “Face the Music” (a favorite of ours from the new album) and the uplifting “We Made It”. Not one to forget his roots, Tomlinson also threw in covers of One Direction’s “Night Changes” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go”, putting his own spin on the massive hits.
Tomlinson’s voice was a standout in One Direction and getting to hear him sing solo puts that uniqueness front and center. He also tells his story in raw and honest lyrics, never forgetting where he came from and where he knows he belongs.
The unreleased fan favorite “Copy of a Copy of a Copy” had another spotlight moment on this tour, along with a cover of Arctic Monkeys’ “505” done to perfection. At this point, Tomlinson’s weariness was starting to show but the fans carried him as he pushed through to end the main set with “Out of My System”.
Flashing lights and loud guitars brought Tomlinson back to the stage for an encore and he jumped down to the barricade to be in the arms of his adoring fans. Those arms and hands got aggressive, however, and he returned to his microphone rumpled and with holes torn in yet another stage outfit- prompting Tomlinson’s biggest smile of the night. He has a clear love of performing and described being in front of thousands of people who have lifted him up from the One Direction days to now as healing and exhilarating.
That adoration and joy was mirrored for the entire show and Tomlinson exited the stage to thunderous applause and the knowledge that we’d all be back next time.
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Story and photos by Olivia Khiel
