Zayn Leaves Hammerstein Ballroom In Awe Of His ‘Stairway to the Sky’ Tour

Samantha Colleran, January 2025

Zayn Malik at Hammerstein Ballroom, Samantha Colleran / VIBING ON VINYL

So, about last Friday. I have a lot to say but my thoughts are so scrambled. My strong desire for constant perfection is being set to the side because if I don’t just type and type, it’ll never get out into the world. To make a long story short, I finally saw Zayn, and it exceeded any and all expectations I had going in. 

Zayn’s entire backing band is made up of women, which he has received tons of praise for since the beginning of the tour. Lisa Ramey (vocals), Molly Miller (guitar), Tahira Clayton (vocals), Steph “Baby Bulldog” Barker (drums), Rebecca Haviland (vocals, guitar), Tina Hazon (keyboard), and Ryan Madora (bass) added new depth and life to the live performance of the songs I’ve come to love so much. I was equally enthralled with their talents as I was with Zayn’s. 

The setlist flowed incredibly, some older tracks made the cut while the majority consisted of tracks from his 2024 release Room Under the Stairs. “My Woman” kicked off the night, the keyboard introduction feeling cathartic as the curtain dropped and everyone realized Zayn was right there. You could tell he was just as excited to be there as we were to see him. He’s overcome a lot since he last toured, watching him get more comfortable as he eased into the set in real time was really cool. Other Room Under the Stairs tracks followed; the upbeat “Birds on a Cloud” and smooth “Dreamin” were played prior to Z side tracks “Lied To”, “In The Bag”, and “Ignorance Ain’t Bliss”. 

My personal trio of favorite tracks were played in a row in the middle of the set. Mind of Mine track “BoRdErZs” kicked things off with Zayn sounding so effortlessly cool. “iT’s YoU” followed, and this was my favorite song of the night. You could feel just how intently everyone was listening to him, hanging onto every word and soaking it in. No one sang along, there were parts people applauded, but everyone took a step back and allowed Zayn to do what he does best. For most of the night he kept his eyes closed when singing, but this felt different, like he was getting truly lost in the song. I’ve always dreamt of hearing this song live, it’s been my favorite track since Mind of Mine released, so being able to experience that dream feels surreal. I watch all of my concert videos back from time to time, but this is one I keep revisiting. I’ve watched it over ten times since Friday, and each time I get transported back to Hammerstein Ballroom, standing in the middle of the pit, watching a vocalist I’ve admired for over a decade. The live version made me feel a whole new level of love for the track. I really hope he releases a live album when he’s done touring, because this would be my most listened to song without a doubt.

“Shoot At Will” wrapped up the trio of my favorites. I think this is one of his best songs and shows his talent as a lyricist. It’s so vulnerable, the fact he included it in the setlist was a shock to me but I’m so happy he made that choice because it’s a highlight of the night. He’s an emotional performer, and this song really showcases that. I filmed this entire song for myself, and it’s really funny watching it back because there are points in those two and a half minutes where I can tell I was swept into another universe watching him perform because the camera is shaking or he’s slightly out of frame. The effect his voice has on people is truly magical. 

The night closed out with “Gates of Hell”, an upbeat track that kept the crowd engaged. Zayn left the stage before his band, who kept rocking on for another minute. Once they left, “Stardust” filled the venue as Zayn’s tribute to Liam Payne lit up the stage. Everyone sang along, people formed giant group hugs, danced, and wiped tears off of each other’s faces knowing that we had all experienced something so beautiful. The tribute broke a part of me, but it also made me smile thinking of how wonderful the way Zayn chooses to honor his brother is; taking him around on tour to places he never got the chance to play. It’s touching, heartbreaking, and a reminder that life is too damn short. 

There is a lot I want to say about this show, but it still doesn’t feel as if it actually happened. I haven’t seen Zayn perform since 2014, so to see him back in a live setting was truly special. His stage presence has also improved; when I last saw him, he had the ability to step back and split the stage with four other people. It’s clear he’s far more comfortable now, easily stepping into the spot on center stage and letting his talent and personality shine through. Although talking between songs was minimal, you could tell how happy he was to connect with the crowd; checking in to make sure we were comfortable with the temperature (we were not, although that made a perfect segue to “Sweat”) and had enough water (we did not), making little comments about the songs, ensuring everyone in the building knew it was a safe space to sing loud and enjoy themselves. Like I said before, it’s really healing to see someone I admire so much find their voice again. 

Thank you Zayn, for giving me one more day of happiness, I will hold this night close to my heart for the rest of my life. I am forever in awe of your talent and am so proud to call myself a fan of yours. See you soon?

All photos in this post were taken by me. If reposting, please credit Samantha Colleran / VIBING ON VINYL.

Leave a note!