MITCH ROWLAND BRINGS COMFORT TO PHILADELPHIA
BY MADDI WHITING“This is what you call good listening. Thank you.”
No phrase sums up an evening with Mitch Rowland on his first-ever solo headline tour quite like this one. Uttered by Rowland upon silence falling over the room in the middle of his set, this sentiment speaks to the attentiveness of the crowd and intimacy of the performance that night in Philadelphia, PA. Mitch Rowland, accompanied by his band, played the Theatre of Living Arts to a full house on March 15th, 2024.
Many know the musician, Mitch Rowland through his working relationship with Harry Styles and his role as the guitarist in ‘The Love Band’ - the name lovingly given to Styles’ band for the duration of Love on Tour. However, sharing the space with Rowland that night, it was clear that these fans were here to see him and only him (though there were some passionate cheers for his wife, and drummer, Sarah). Feather boas, sequins and bright colors - the unofficial uniform of Love on Tour - were traded in for a more casual style reflective of the singer’s music. Though it’s easy to assume, and it may well be the case, that most fans at the venue discovered Rowland through his collaborations with Harry Styles, these fans were some of the most kind and respectful I’ve seen. At multiple points throughout the evening, a hush fell over the crowd that I can’t compare to anything I’ve experienced at a concert before - here was a group of individuals so content to listen to an artist’s music that there was no need to sing along. This behavior truly allowed Mitch and his beautiful music to shine; the concert became an intimate listening session rather than a huge dance party, but it feels as though that’s just what the album ‘Come June’ asks for.
A testament to the fans’ generosity, at one point in the performance, Rowland concludes a song and turns to the audience… “You can heckle if you want” which is only met with thunderous applause and cheers. “Not like that!” Rowland replies, with a smile. Another highlight of the evening was Mitch ‘barking back’ at a group of fans - a small callback to Love on Tour that made both parties smile; it was almost as if the audience and musician were sharing a quick inside joke.
The tour showcases Rowland’s debut LP, ‘Come June’ which was released late last year. With a set clocking in right around the one hour mark, the setlist consists of the entirety of ‘Come June’ followed by an encore of ‘Oh! Sweet Nuthin’’ by The Velvet Underground. One thing that makes this tour special is that accompanying Mitch, playing in the band, is the same group of individuals that created and produced the album. This intentional and informed choice feels like a gift, offering audiences a ‘pure,’ unadulterated taste of where the music they’re listening to came from - something that feels like a rarity among live performances these days.
Though no big gesture was ever needed, this album and tour appears to be the first step in separating Rowland from his title of “Harry Styles’ Collaborator” as it is pasted all over google. With a skillfully written and produced album and a cool, calm on-stage presence, Rowland is so deserving of the adoration that fans have shown him all throughout this tour and will inevitably continue to show him. Whatever it is, I know we look forward to whatever Mitch has planned next.
