5 Seconds of Summer - EVeryone’s A Star! Tour
I have been a fan of 5 seconds of Summer since their first EP Somewhere New. So much of an OG fan, I saw them open for One Direction (a not so subtle flex). So, of course, I was extremely excited to be attending the Austin show of the Everyone’s A Star! Tour. Everyone’s A Star! the album was sound that was different for 5SOS, even for me it took me a couple of listens to appreciate it. But if 5SOS can do anything it is put on a show.
The show was composed into 6 acts and an encore:
Act I: The Peak - NOT OK, No. 1 Obsession, Teeth
Act II: The Fall - Easier, More, istillfeelthesame, No Shame
PowerPoint Break - She’s Kinda Hot, Boyband, Telephone Busy, Evolve
Act III: The Yearning: Bad Omens, Ghost of You, I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again
ACT IV: The Break Up - Starting Line (Luke Hemmings), Have U Found What U Are Looking For? (Ashton Irwin), Don’t Forget You Love Me (Calum Hood), enough (Michael Clifford)
Act V: The Rise - Amnesia, Cool Dad (Surprise Song)
Act VI: The Beginning - English Love Affair, Voodoo Doll, Waste the Night, Jet Black Heart, She Looks So Perfect
Encore - Everyone’s A Star!, Youngblood
In between songs and acts there were videos that were made by the band full of inside jokes with the fan base, trips down memory lane, and taking us through the rise and fall of a boyband. A title that 5SOS rejected for a long time but is now embracing, complete with a mock award show determining the “World’s Best Boyband” which they took home the title every show (of course). This is something that I definitely enjoy about a 5SOS show, they prioritize the fan experience and input, they are involved with everything fans talk about outside of tour and music. It works for them because their fan base really is only people who really listen, I feel there are times where you are hard pressed to find a casual 5 Seconds of Summer fan. This is why they are known as “the most famous underground boyband.” The Everyone’s A Star! Tour really finds the right balance between focusing on new music and playing songs that haven’t been on the setlist in years like Voodoo Doll and More. My dream song for them to bring back is Catch Fire. We can actually run the whole Sounds Good Feels Good era back. Could you imagine Girls Talk Boys?! While there is a minimal set design and movement from the band they make up for it in visuals. Every song had matching visuals complete with lyrics for the chorus. That and including all the videos that they show throughout the show. Another aspect of the show that I really liked was them including an act for their solo music. Every single member has their own solo album, and they are still a band which is something that doesn’t really happen. When a band decides to make solo music, they only make solo music, which makes 5SOS the band so much more special, that they continually are able to come back together and make albums as a band and still support each other in their individual projects. This takes the negative title of Act IV: The Break Up and softens it. There was one thing that I was disappointed about with my show in Austin. And really it is just me complaining. Our surprise song was Cool Dad and granted our show was on Father’s Day and two of the members are Dads. But Cool Dad is more of a silly song. Which this band is no stranger to i.e. 500 Years of Winter - Pizza Song (definitely look that up if you are unfamiliar, very popular in the 2014 days). I think I just would have loved to been able to pick the surprise song like the other cities with options like Start Over, You Don’t Go To Parties, Try Hard, or a Teenage Dirtbag cover. Now that is really a throwback.
Overall, I loved this show. It was so good to see them again and to live in this new aesthetic and sound in the way it is supposed to be seen and heard. A wonderful performance, from a wonderful boyband who has always been the world’s best and didn’t need the trophy to prove it. I am on the edge of my seat for their next album but for now Everyone’s A Star! including me.
