The last time Niall Horan took the stage in St. Louis, he was accompanied by his former One Direction bandmates at The Dome at America’s Center in 2014. Playing for over 50,000 fans, the five then-boys played through a nearly 2-hour set full of music they later revealed they felt little-to-no connection to. This performance came only a year shy of their disbandment when in late 2015, the former boybanders announced they were taking a temporary hiatus to pursue solo endeavors.
Niall Horan headlines his Flicker World Tour at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. Photo © Alyssa Bardol/Alyssa Bardol Photography
Flash forward almost four years to the day, and after two years of honing his solo craft, Niall Horan returned to St. Louis last night at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre to introduce fans to his new direction. He came as part of his Flicker World Tour, named after his first solo full-length studio release, which kicked off earlier this year and has already traveled the globe. Along with him, he brought along Maren Morris to open the show.
Maren Morris opens for Niall Horan on his Flicker World Tour at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. Photo © Alyssa Bardol/Alyssa Bardol Photography
Fans came out in droves to see the two superstars who have had tremendous success in recent months, with Morris’ inescapable “The Middle” continuing to chart and Horan’s “Slow Hands” garnering radio play for more than 18 months. Horan’s decision to bring Morris on tour came after working together on a track for Horan’s album titled “Seeing Blind,” which they performed together after Morris got the night off to a great start.
When Horan took the stage, the energy buzzing through the venue was electric. The women and girls in attendance burst into hysterics upon seeing the Irish heart throb take the stage where he stood amidst a cloud of fog before taking the mic. Strumming the first few bars of “On The Loose” on his guitar alongside his bandmates, Horan eventually took the mic and took the energy in the room to a new level. To no surprise, his voice was drowned out due to the shrill screams of the young girls in the crowd.
Niall Horan headlines his Flicker World Tour at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. Photo © Alyssa Bardol/Alyssa Bardol Photography
He spent the next hour and a half playing through a multitude of original songs, including his smash hits “Slow Hands” and “Too Much To Ask,” as well as paying tribute to his One Direction days with “Drag Me Down” and having the crowd carry “Fools Gold.”
Wowed by the crowd’s choir-like participation during “Fools Gold,” Horan instructed the crowd to sing the chorus back to him a second time as he took his in-ears out to listen to the nearly 18,000 fans in attendance.
Adding to his list of original music, Horan also covered “Dancing In The Dark” by Bruce Springsteen and “I Won’t Back Down” by the late Tom Petty whose influences on the singer are evident.
Reminiscent of a young John Mayer, Horan’s new sound isn’t what you would expect from a former boybander: his music is mature and showcases his formerly overshadowed lyricism. To no surprise, his fans, new and old, have supported Horan on his solo journey the same as they had when he was a part of One Direction: with a well-deserved, unwavering love.
Niall Horan headlines his Flicker World Tour at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. Photo © Alyssa Bardol/Alyssa Bardol Photography
After an hour and a half of screaming along the lyrics to Horan’s music, embracing their friends in tears, and understandably keeping their cellphones held high to capture videos of their favorite songs, Horan bid the crowd adieu with “Mirrors.”
Whether or not you are a fan of Niall Horan or of One Direction, there is one thing about the 24-year old singer that is undeniable: his passion that will inevitably carry him into great things while continuing on his path as a solo artist.
SET LIST:
1. On The Loose
2. The Tide
3. This Town
4. Paper Houses
5. You and Me
6. Dancing in the Dark
7. Seeing Blind (with Maren Morris)
8. Flicker
9. Fool’s Gold
10. Too Much To Ask
11. So Long
12. Since We’re Alone
13. Fire Away
14. Finally Free
15. On My Own
Encore
16. Drag Me Down
17. Slow Hands
18. Mirrors
Niall Horan headlines his Flicker World Tour at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. Photo © Alyssa Bardol/Alyssa Bardol Photography
Photos © Alyssa Bardol/Alyssa Bardol Photography
