Billie Eilish Enraptures Madison Square Garden With ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ Tour: 8 Best Moments

On Wednesday night (Oct. 16), Billie Eilish beamed with pride as tens of thousands of birds of a feather stuck together and relished in the cinematic world of her Hit Me Hard and Soft LP. The nine-time Grammy winner played her first of three sold-out shows at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, the most times she’s ever graced the iconic venue on a headlining tour.

Anchored by the still-permeating tracks of Hard and Soft, Eilish’s latest trek displays her remarkable growth as a musician, vocalist, and performer, as well as her almost singular ability to cultivate intimacy in spaces that are diametrically opposed to that feeling. Dressed in her now-trademark ensemble of an oversized t-shirt, baggy shorts, sneakers, and a Yankees snapback, Eilish sprinted around the stage, spent some time with fans on the floor, and treated The Garden two hours to some of the best and most adventurous pop music of the last half-decade.

The morning of the show, Eilish launched a SoHo pop-up in collaboration with American Express featuring exclusive merchandise and interactive stations inspired by the world of Hard and Soft. Before she took the stage, pop-rock sibling duo Nat & Alex Wolff — who some fans fondly remember as The Naked Brothers Band from Nickelodeon — warmed up the arena, delivering spirited renditions of tracks like 2020’s “Glue” and “Soft Kissing Hour,” an unreleased Eilish-produced cut. At one point, Alex Wolff ran an entire lap on the floor around the stage before kicking off the final song in the duo’s set — a particularly impressive feat considering what a busy weekend the multihyphenate has ahead of him. The Line, his new film in which he stars alongside Halle Bailey, Denise Richards and the late Angus Cloud, opens on Friday (Oct. 18).

Wolff’s affinity for a quick lap was just a teaser for Eilish, who frequently sprinted around the stage during her livelier songs. With the stage in the center of the arena and a setup that prioritized her band and incredibly intricate lighting design over backup dancers and elaborate set pieces, Eilish offered up a show that played on the minimalist bent of her music. The sparseness of the stage created scenes that were as enthralling and they were harrowing, particularly during ballads like “When the Party’s Over,” “Lovely” and “What Was I Made For?” Of course, eye-popping pyro and dizzying lasers played up the spunky, electronic undertones of hits like “Bad Guy,” “Therefore I Am” and “Guess.”

Ultimately a gorgeous presentation of her latest Billboard chart-topping album, Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour was also a commendable victory lap for a pop star who only seems to know how to level up. Here were the eight best moments from Wednesday night’s show.