With his most powerful vocals and commanding stage presence to date, Niall Horan delivered an unforgettable performance at Madison Square Garden, showcasing his growth and unwavering dedication to his craft and fans as an artist.
Performing two back-to-back headlining shows at the world’s most famous arena, the Irish singer-songwriter is not unfamiliar with the iconic arena. Horan played at the venue back in 2012 alongside his band members in One Direction. Since the disbandment, Niall has proven himself a force to be reckoned with.
The Irishman released his debut album, Flicker, back in 2017, introducing himself to the music industry and the world as a solo artist. Despite the global lockdown and the unfortunate cancellation of his tour promoting his sophomore album, Heartbreak Weather, Niall Horan didn’t let the circumstances dampen his spirit, as he spent hours online with the rest of us as we sat at home, hoping for a brighter future ahead where we could all eventually enjoy this. In 2023, he returned with his third studio album, The Show, and announced his first tour in six years, a testament to his resilience and dedication to his fans.
@NiallHoran on Instagram – Photo Credit: Christian Tierney
With three studio albums and a successful solo tour, his achievements extend beyond the music industry. He’s also made a mark as a coach on The Voice, winning consecutively during his time on the show. Additionally, he serves as a co-founder of Modest Golf.
I discovered Niall back in 2012 when I was just 10 years old, completely obsessed with magazines like J-14 and Tiger Beat. I used up countless rolls of Scotch tape, hanging up posters of One Direction, transforming my blank walls into a collage filled to the brim with images of the band I adored. As an original fan, I had the privilege of seeing them perform multiple times, both as a five-piece and a four-piece group. (I witnessed history, I know.)
The last time I experienced one of Niall’s shows was on Halloween in 2017 at the Beacon Theater. My fifteen-year-old self was overwhelmed with emotion, sobbing throughout the entire performance as I couldn’t believe I was seeing my favorite artist in such an intimate venue.
Fast forward nearly seven years later, and the contrast is striking. Niall has grown tremendously as an artist, and seeing him sell out both nights at much larger venues is a testament to his journey and the deep connection he has created with his fans. The atmosphere now is even more electric, filled with the energy of countless fans who, like me, have followed him through every stage of his career over the past decade and then some. The anticipation and excitement in the air is palpable, a shared thrill that unites us all. It’s incredible to witness his evolution and to be part of these moments, knowing that my journey with Niall began in those early days of his musical career: blonde hair, braces, and the red polo.
Arriving at Madison Square Garden, many fans wore merchandise from the early days, and others were dressed to the nines to see their favorite artist after so many years away from the big stage. Something about a Niall Horan show feels like home; it felt like a simultaneous familiar hug and a fresh breath of air.
During Niall’s North American leg of The Show: Live on Tour, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Holden Jaffe, better known as Del Water Gap, opened the show. I was thrilled when I discovered he would be Niall’s opener, as I’ve been a fan of his for a few years. Imagining the dream come true, this tour must be for him, especially when performing at Madison Square Garden in the city where his Del Water Gap project began during his college days at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute, making the experience even more special. He performed several tracks, including those from his latest record, I Miss You Already + You Haven’t Left Yet. With anecdotes of his time falling in love, mentioning memories of the East Village in the beginning days of his solo project, he undoubtedly connected with everyone in the room, with multiple die-hard fans screaming and jumping to his music around me.
@NiallHoran on Instagram – Photo Credit @ChristianTierney
With the roar of the crowd filling up the Garden and my heart racing with excitement, the only thing I could truly focus on was how present Niall was on stage. He interacted with fans, even hugging some, and announced how he surprised one lucky fan with a front-row seat, fulfilling a promise made years ago in a viral Twitter interaction about selling out MSG.
Niall’s band, featuring John Bird on bass, Jake Curran on strings, Emily Kohavi on strings and violin, Dani McGinley on keys, Alex Torjussen on drums, and Louis Querelle on keys, played a crucial role in bringing the show to life. Their cohesive yet individual performances were instrumental in creating a memorable experience for the fans.
With a fantastic setlist, Horan played a combination of tracks that represented his artistic growth. In the midst of bangers from The Show and Heartbreak Weather, the band sat down together for a mini acoustic set, where Niall played “This Town,” the very beloved song that debuted Niall as a solo artist back in 2016, as well as “You Could Start a Cult” a fan favorite from his latest record.
One of my personal favorite aspects of Niall’s show was his consistent appreciation for everyone involved, not just the fans but also the hardworking crew behind the scenes. Niall has always been an advocate for crew members. Back in 2020, amid the pandemic, he hosted a virtual concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall to raise money for touring crew members unable to work due to the lack of tours. Horan sold over 120,000 tickets globally, and fans tuned in to see their favorite artist perform live, even if it was through a screen. Paying homage to every single person in the arena, Niall highlighted his gratitude.
“We all have our individual stories of how we got here tonight… It’s not just concert tickets. It’s the train here, it’s gas for your car, parents bringing their kids for food, the drinks, the merchandise… It’s not easy to get to a show nowadays. You chose to spend your time and money on me, and I really appreciate that.”
Personally, Niall holds a special place in my life, symbolizing growth and nostalgia from my girlhood that truly never ends. I attended his show with a dear friend, Carol, whom I’ve known for over a decade; our bond was initially sparked by my binder decorated with a collage of One Direction pictures and my iconic Niall phone case I had ordered from Etsy back in 2013. In the midst of Niall singing “Paper Houses” (a beautiful ballad from his debut album Flicker), everything came crashing down on me: memories like the waves at high tide flooded back to me of the hours we’d spend memorizing music lyric for lyric, crying together in the hallway on March 25th, 2015 (if you know… you know), the time we spent bonding over various conspiracy theories at age 12 (and putting ourselves through so much stress because of a boyband), we had truly grown up with Niall. Something about his music and presence feels like home.
Attending Niall’s show at 22, reflecting on life, and navigating the early stages of adulthood feels like completing a circle of girlhood, from the 10-year-old who spent hours in the night writing in her diary about the music she loved so dearly in her room. (It was never just a phase!)
Stream The Show, and stay updated on Niall’s latest releases and announcements here!