Review: Harry Styles is rock music's last great hope

By the time Harry Stlyes strummed his acoustic guitar on the B-Stage and led a sold-out Pepsi Center through his song “Sweet Creature” 45 minutes into his set, he had already convinced the most jaded fathers and guardians in attendance of his chops as a rock n’ roll musician. And for those old enough to remember true arena rock before it was played by grizzled baby boomers like U2 and Bruce Springsteen, Styles gave us hope – hope his good looks and English charm would continue to woo fans who turned out to hear the One Direction songs.

Styles is the last great hope for rock n’ roll as mainstream art and his tour that wraps up this month proved it, whether he was providing those One Direction songs with a harder edge, playing his Bowie-esque self-titled record (that tweens bought in merch tents and carried around on vinyl all night), or leading his band through a blistering cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.”

The shrieks and screams from the mostly-female audience (Pepsi Center crews converted men’s restrooms throughout the venue into women’s lavatories before the crowd had even entered the venue) were deafening at times and Styles’ band was turned up loud enough all fans could hear them. This is important to do, especially when the fan sitting next to you knows all the words and is singing as loud as she can. Fortunately, Styles’ crew made sure the wonderful sound of the band stayed the focus, even at such high volumes. Each instrument kept its distinction and the music was a pleasurable experience throughout.

Styles, himself, joked that it was remarkable he would be crafting a setlist as a headliner after just one album. And that album was played in its entirety. However, he mixed the songs for the performance and each was placed at the perfect spot in the setlist. Three One Direction songs made their way into the set and Styles also “took back” a song he wrote for Ariana Grande. I’m not sure what her version sounds like, but his was impressive and grandiose. When Styles rocked out to “Kiwi” at the end of the night, I was reminded of the 1980s and what it must have been like to hear “Pour Some Sugar On Me” close an in-their-prime Def Leppard set.

Styles’ show was always about the music. Lighting, pyrotechnics, and video board use was muted. It was like seeing a Pearl Jam concert – down to the people jumping around behind the stage in their seats. Fitting, given Eddie Vedder’s personal affection for Styles. Even Styles’ opening act is a throwback to the way things used to be. Kacey Musgraves, who has opened up for heavy-hitting old guys like Willie Nelson in her career, plays a classic-style of country music and it was warmly accepted by the early-arriving crowd.

I enjoy seeing R&B and rap shows as much as the next guy. And watching indie rockers and older rock n’ roll icons will remain my passion. But I hope Harry Styles is a gateway drug to those first-time concert ticket buyers last night. I hope they left the concert thinking about how great rock music can sound, how great of a community it can build, and how important it is to maintain as part of music culture. Pure rock music has not died yet – but it very-well may be in the hands of Harry Styles and those future artists he inspires. On Tuesday night, those hands were more than capable of keeping that tradition – from the Beatles to the Stones to Bowie to Def Leppard to Pearl Jam – alive and kicking.