Distracted

By Silvia Xhahysa

There is a specific scenario of a person who walks into a 5 Seconds of Summer show as a
casual fan and walks out completely unhinged. I have watched it happen in real time. I am
not immune, and neither are you, consider yourself warned.

The Everyone’s a Star! era arrived in medias res. Cryptic posts appeared everywhere
stating “Your Favorite Boy Band.” They leaned fully into the boy band bit, not defensively,
but with the confidence and self-awareness of four people who have been at this for over a decade and have absolutely nothing to prove. The sarcasm, the antithesis of calling
themselves a boy band and releasing pop-punk, alt-rock-influenced music, is what makes this album rollout so fun to be around for and altogether very engaging.

If you have been following 5 Seconds of Summer for a while, you might know about their
image, their brand, how they don’t take themselves too seriously, while still making amazing art. One of the main reasons they’ve been together this far is that they are genuine good friends who love making music with each other; and you can feel all that love in everything they have ever put out to this day. You’ll see them always celebrating and cherishing the old memories; where they come from, their career, their fans, with gratitude and hope for the future.

The culmination of this passion and dedication is their live performances. One thing about 5 Seconds of Summer is that they are a great live band. They sound fantastic vocally, they give their songs a much heavier edge, and their stage presence — they always become one with the crowd. Drums are such a driving force in a band’s sound, and 5SOS is no exception. Ashton Irwin is an incredibly powerful and expressive drummer who puts everything into his playing, leading and carrying that energy. Lead singer Luke Hemmings consistently delivers remarkable vocals, with so much intention and vulnerability. His unique and captivating warm timbre makes you fall in love with everything he sings. They are absolute powerhouses, and lead guitarist Michael Clifford and bassist Calum Hood are no exception to this prowess. A lineup of four exceptionally talented musicians who truly command their instruments.

The St. Louis Hollywood Casino Amphitheater was a great fit for their show. There is
something about an open sky and a sloped lawn that transforms a concert into a shared,
collective moment, and the band knew exactly how to be in that space. Slower, emotional
tracks like Ghost of You, Bad Omens, and I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again were given room to breathe, balancing high-energy anthems such as Youngblood, Easier, and Evolve with a quiet intimacy. The true emotional peak came with older classics of theirs like Amnesia that, carrying years of shared memories, united the crowd into a single, heartfelt chant sung back to the stage.

A good time is promised when it comes to 5 Seconds of Summer, and a good laugh is
guaranteed. The show was structured in acts, each one themed, each one named with the same tongue-in-cheek dramatics the album rollout established. The Peak. The Fall. The Yearning. A fictional breakup story, told start to finish; pure fun that perfectly complements the emotional climax near the end of the night.

A personal favourite moment of mine was the mid-set solo spotlights. It is clear that all four members possess vastly different styles and tastes, both musically and otherwise, so this format allowed each of them to express themselves in a way that felt authentic to who they are. It reminds you of how they are four distinct, fully-formed artists, actively choosing to share one stage. It’s beautiful.

They put a spell on the crowd. There is no other way to say it. People leave 5 Seconds of
Summer shows more obsessed than they arrived. It must be that Boy Band magic.
Everyone’s a Star! is a statement piece, a hilarious joke, and a serious, high-quality piece of work album all at once. The tour is its perfect companion; sharp, self-aware, and deeply resonant and sincere in all the right moments. If they are coming to a city near you and you are on the fence: get off the fence right now.