The show began with support from rock singer Haiden Henderson, who started the show off strong, bringing powerful rock vibes to the stage with great stage presence and charismatic energy, making him a perfect fit for the crowd of 5sos.
Energetic rock band South Arcade followed, building on the energy from the previous support act. Their powerful track ‘2005’ was a highlight in their set, amplifying the crowds excitment, proving why they are such an exciting opener.
At 21:00, 5 Seconds of Summer took the stage, with the cheers from the crowd echoing around the arena as excitement built. A documentary-style interview clip with each member played on screen, talking about what it is like to be in the band. The screen went dark, and the crowd erupted as it cut to the band in a car, laughing and holding mugs with Union Jacks while the opening of ‘NOT OK’ played, with Luke Hemmings singing into the camera. After the first verse, the screen cut off, the lights were flashing, and soundtracked by the cheers from the crowd, the band appeared on stage.
‘NOT OK’ was the perfect song to start the show with; the energy was high, the crowd was jumping along to the more intense rock sound than their older tracks, marking an evolution of the sound of 5sos throughout the years. This energy continued as the band played more songs from the album, including the punchy and infectious tracks ‘No.1 Obsession’ and ‘Evolve’, which kept the energy high, before the arena settled into a calmer vibe for ‘I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again.’
The structure of the show focused on the band's history, including mini-comedy videos played on the big screens, filmed in the style of news segments reporting on the band. In these videos, they played on the stereotype of rock stars and boy bands, reflecting on their fame and how they have grown.
The band took a short break from rocking out to present a PowerPoint to the audience, focusing on key elements for the best rock show, highlighting the importance of understanding the location they are playing in, leading into jokes regarding the London show, going to the pub before the show and having pie and mash. An additional slide on their PowerPoint included a graph predicting audience reaction for the new songs compared to the old songs, with Ashton Irwin saying, “When we play the new stuff, we notice you like it, but you don’t love it as much as the old stuff!”
This comment seamlessly led into the introduction to ‘She’s Kinda Hot’, with the crowd's reaction to the first few notes proving their PowerPoint predictions correct.
The fan favourite hits remained woven throughout the show from this moment, including ‘English Love Affair’ and ‘She Looks So Perfect’, where the voices of the crowd were so loud, taking a moment to relive their teenage years. A particularly moving moment through the set was an acoustic version of ‘Amnesia’, which had thousands of phone torches in the air, and both the band and the crowd united in singing along, creating a powerful feeling of connection in the arena.
The show made room for each member's solo music, giving each member a chance to showcase their individual achievements beyond the band. Positioned at the front of the stage, each member delivered their solo tracks to a crowd just as excited for the band's hits. The songs chosen seamlessly reflected the sound of the band as a whole.
A true highlight from the show was the track ‘Bad Omens’ from their album 5SOS5. This is an emotionally powerful song in which the energy rises in the chorus, enhanced by confetti shooting from the stage and bright lights.
The 'Everyones A Star!' Tour served as a reminder of why 5SOS made a lasting impact and why they continue to sell out arenas. Their ability to understand their audience, honour their past hits, and push their musical growth to exciting new places results in a show that feels current while still drenched in nostalgia.
Maria Bensusan
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