One Direction was THAT band for millions of people. The British/Irish boyband broke long-standing records, sold out countless shows worldwide, and was of the biggest acts of my generation. They are the reason why many people (myself included) decided to study marketing, communications, journalism, and pursue careers in the music industry. While I have no doubt that one day the guys will get back together, for now we’ve gotten some great tunes from Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, and Louis Tomlinson as solo artists.
Earlier this year Niall embarked on his headlining Flicker World Tour in support of his debut album Flicker. Last night the tour stopped by San Diego at the Mattress Firm Amphitheatre. Niall is no stranger to the venue – he played there with 1D back in 2013 on the Take Me Home Tour, and performed at the Channel 933 Summer Kickoff Concert in 2017.
Slow Hands, Slow Body
Contrary to fangirl tradition, I had a hard time waking up in the morning and getting out of bed. I needed to be at the venue no later than 3:45PM for my VIP soundcheck check-in, and I started getting ready around 1. I also purchased a ticket for my mom but since she didn’t have soundcheck because she gets off work later, she was going to meet me at the venue later.
I decided I was going to take my sweet time getting to the venue. Again, another shocker since at 1D concerts (and even of the boys solo) it isn’t uncommon for guests with reserved seats to arrive hours before the doors open. I got some Starbucks, parked my car, and walked like a turtle to the VIP check in table and to the will call window at the box office.
So you made it in… then what?
The venue looked PACKED. There were tons of lines with people everywhere, and I didn’t know which one to go into. It was very hot as well, and everyone was drinking water. I was given a plastic bag to put my phone in, and it had to stay in the bag during soundcheck. No photos or videos were allowed!
Soon enough, we were walked to our seats for soundcheck. The first four or five rows were being saved for people with meet and greets. When Niall finally came out on stage, I was in awe because of how skinny his legs were… he was tiny! He sang 3 songs, and then was given a few sheets with questions from fans. He kept commenting on “Twitter language”, like “shook” “slay” etc.
Fast forward to the actual show, I had front row seats on the right side of the stage. I always like sitting on the sides because I get to see everything at an angle instead of looking straight up, and I can imagine that would likely make my neck hurt.
Maren Morris took the stage around 7:30, and she delivered an electric performance singing hits such as “My Church”, “I Could Use a Love Song”, and of course, “The Middle”. Country girls definitely know how to get down!
As for the main event… once Niall hit the stage at 9PM, the entire crowd went crazy (as expected). Niall opened up the show with “On The Loose” and cranked through roughly 90 minutes of romantic pop/folk tunes from his debut album, as well as a few 1D covers and a cover of “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen. Niall encouraged everyone to dance, even if they didn’t know the lyrics to the song.
The minimalistic stage production definitely helped create an intimate vibe for the show. I didn’t feel like I was at a venue that held thousands of people. There were moments when the stage lights were turned down even more, and the crowd turned on their phone flashlights. One of those moments was when Niall sang “Fools Gold”.
Even though a lot of Niall’s new music has a very relaxed feel, he didn’t hesitate to crank up the energy multiple times throughout the night. He put his guitar down for his performance of “Slow Hands”, and hip-thrusted his way from one side of the stage to another.
The Outfit
I wore a floral romper from Fashion Q, a straw hat that I literally found in the broom closet under the stairs, and my “front row boots” that I’ve worn at every show this year that I knew I’d be front row for. I’m extra. I know. I also know that I looked like I was about to take someone to church.
The Flicker World Tour continues tonight in Las Vegas, NV. I would highly recommend checking out his shows if you haven’t already! It was a wonderful event for all ages, and the 1D family proved that we are all still an unbreakable community.
