NEW YORK – Harry Styles has always represented proud individuality.
He's also been known to rock a feather boa and sequins.
So of course the earnest pop superstar took a few moments toward the end of his lively Together, Together residency debut at Madison Square Garden to pay tribute to Dolly Parton, who died days earlier on Aug. 25.
Following a sincere discourse about his appreciation of his fans and band (always applaud an artist who takes time to applaud his stage crew), Styles thanked the musicians who have influenced him, raised his arm in a semi-salute and said, "We love you, Dolly."
But there would be no attempt at a cover song or speechifying about Parton's legacy. Instead, Styles stepped into the shadows to allow Parton's emotion-soaked
warble to blast through the arena as "I Will Always Love You" evoked all the feels.
The homage paired poignantly with Styles' "Sign of the Times," his breakthrough solo hit from nearly a decade ago that remains a ruminative anchor of his catalog.
Harry Styles shakes up the staging for New York shows
But for the previous 90 minutes, Styles, 32, riveted with a combination of the hypnotic beats that power the current "Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally," an album overflowing with steady thumps best appreciated live, and the poppier tracks from his three other solo albums.
The Aug. 26 show marked the first of 30 sold-out concerts Styles will play at the famous venue. The accomplishment did not escape him as he gazed across the audience with emotion-filled eyes and joked that the best thing about New York is that, "you can get a slice of pizza any time of night."
Styles is already one of only three artists to earn a permanent banner hanging from the rafters of MSG (Billy Joel and Phish are the others). He achieved the distinction in 2022 after his 15-show Love on Tour run at the venue.
These New York shows are the only U.S. dates on his Together, Together tour, and Styles and his team adroitly modified the stadium production that dazzled Amsterdam, London and Mexico City.
Lessons were learned from the original staging, a behemoth with parallel catwalks designed with good intentions to allow fans the freedom to roam beneath the raised platforms. Instead, the height caused obstructed sightlines and modifications were quickly employed.
For the arena version of the tour, Styles and his airtight band, led by fan-favorite drummer Sarah Jones, are situated in the center of an oval. But Styles took full advantage of the circular staging that alighted in a Crayola box of colors as he skedaddled around during the blissful horn bleats of "Music for a Sushi Restaurant" and grooved with a corded microphone during "Adore You."
A halo screen hovered above the stage and offered close looks at Styles' sweat-flecked stubble, particularly during the honey-voiced "Carla's Song," which he played behind a keyboard, and the stringed beauty that is "Coming Up Roses" with its standout lyric, "just for tonight, let's go hangover chasing."
The Together, Together tour is true to its name, Harry Styles shakes up setlist
Fans who either saw the tour at an international date or followed clips online likely relished Styles' decision to shake up the setlist from the other shows.
Gone were "Golden," "Fine Line," "Italian Girls" and "Treat People With Kindness." In were the frenetic "Kiwi," a white-lights-pulsing full version of "Satellite" and the rapturously received "Carolina" and "Cinema."
Styles, when not being effortlessly charming, wiggling like a disco line dancer or giddily lapping the stage for the melodically vibrant "As It Was," indulged his electropop leanings as he dabbled behind a mixing board during "Cinema."
As the show wound to its close after almost two hours, Styles again worked the boards, electronically conducting the throbbing powerline of a roof-shaking "Aperture."
When "KATTDO" was released in March, Styles spoke often about the influence of the club scene and its convivial and welcoming vibe that changed his molecules.
That spirit is the guiding force of the Together, Together Tour, which Styles acknowledged with praise for his loving fans.
"This incredible community you guys have built over the years. That is not lost on me. What an honor it is to be a small part of it," he said. "It’s so much bigger than me."
With that, Styles urged the crowd to take the love they share at his shows into the world – just like Dolly would have wanted.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harry Styles brings surprises, emotion and vibrancy to MSG residency
