5 Seconds of Summer Review

I would consider myself what the kids these days call "an OG" 5 Seconds of Summer fan. I still have the extremely low-quality iPhone 5C photos I took at their first Los Angeles headlining show at the Wiltern in April 2014. So, writing a review of their most recent EVERYONE'S A STAR World Tour felt both nostalgic and exciting. However, I was not prepared to see a young twenty-something wearing an "I LOVE OLDER MEN" shirt when I'm actually older than most of the band. That was shocking… But anyways…

Growing up alongside a band is always sentimental, but it can also make you feel… territorial over their sound and music. I have to be honest: I was very hesitant about this album. It was so different from 5SOS5 and fan favorite Youngblood that I worried about how the songs would translate live. The beats pull inspiration from Gorillaz, making a not-so-subtle nod to "Feel Good Inc.," which is a very different vibe from "Bad Omens." However, let me be the first to announce: I was wrong.

Starting the show with the Gorillaz-esque "NOT OK," the sold-out Kia Forum (roughly 12,000 seats filled) was immediately on its feet, jumping. I've seen 5SOS play the Forum about five times now, and I've never seen a crowd like this. It was in that moment that I realized I'd been looking at the album all wrong. They're not trying to change who they are or abandon their original sound—they just want to do whatever the f*ck feels right. And as "NOT OK" flawlessly transitioned into "No. 1 Obsession," I, too, was on my feet.

After wrapping up an absolute banger ("Teeth"), we entered Act II: The Fall (I wasn't quite sure what was going on here just yet, but I trusted the process). Act II included CALM hits "Easier" and "No Shame," with my new favorite from EVERYONE'S A STAR, "istillfeelthesame," sneaking in to make an appearance.

Now, before we get to the most 5SOS-2012-YouTube-This-Band-Is-Four-Boys moment of the night, I have to say: the video segments and the interview-style "Biggest Boyband in the World" schtick—where they broke up, then didn't, and this was supposedly their last show… but not really—felt weird. They're incredibly funny individuals, but it leaned a little too heavily into catering to the younger fans. It reminded me of when the Rolling Stones cast Sydney Sweeney in their "Angry" music video. It just felt a little too… (no pun intended) Try Hard.

So now came the PowerPoint break, where the four boys roasted each other on stage. This particular show was very "ALRIGHT LOS ANGELES!"-focused and sorry, Ashton, that memory will live forever.

After a quick whiplash back to 2015 with "She's Kinda Hot," 5 Seconds of Summer won "Boyband of the Year" (at the Try Hard Awards, naturally) for what was probably the fiftieth time on this tour. It was a cute way to include one lucky fan by having them present the band with their award onstage.

This section also included "Evolve," which is still my favorite song to watch live because they're all so completely immersed in their love for music and performing that you can't help but feel proud of how far they've come. Not to mention—it has a really sick bass line.

Act III: The Yearning featured back-to-back performances of "Bad Omens," "Ghost of You," and the new "I'm Scared I'll Never Sleep Again." The boys tapped back into the lover-boy era that gave us "Close As Strangers" and "Wrapped Around Your Finger."

At this point, it became clear that each act represented a chapter in their journey as a band. We started at the peak, descended into the fall, surged through the frenzy of the Try Hard Awards, and then landed in yearning—which inevitably brings us to…

Act IV: The Break Up.

I remember when they announced they weren't breaking up but were taking time apart to pursue their solo projects. As a fan of (you guessed it) One Direction, this was a genuinely sad moment. What would this "break" lead to?

Starting with our golden boy, Luke, he rose from the middle of the stage to perform "Starting Line." Then the spotlight rotated to Ashton ("Have U Found What Ur Looking For?"), Calum's "Don't Forget You Love Me" (I'm biased, but this one's my favorite), and finally Michael's "enough."

All four musicians contributed to each solo performance, and honestly… it got me a little emotional. To watch them go from opening for One Direction, to taking a break, to now supporting and celebrating each other's solo work—it reminded me that they'll always be those four boys from Sydney, Australia… just with weirder styling choices.

(Quick question: Why style Luke with long, spiky blonde hair for promo only to dye it black before the tour? Why? Why did he do that?)

You'd think that after the emotional solo performances we'd transition back into something upbeat and energetic, but you'd be wrong. Instead, they launched into an absolutely beautiful performance of "Amnesia," complete with harmonies that sixteen-year-old me could only have dreamed of hearing. I might've shed a tear. Maybe.

At this point in the show, they do a fun "secret song" segment that usually ends with one or two lucky fans opening a Deal or No Deal-style briefcase containing the night's mystery song. Before the show starts, you're supposed to scan a QR code and vote between four songs, but in L.A. it wasn't working. Michael joked that it was because they didn't want us messing up their hometown show pick, but honestly, I think the website just bugged out.

To my complete shock, "What I Like About You" was inside the case, and from there it became a full-blown walk down memory lane with "English Love Affair," "Waste the Night," "Voodoo Doll,” and “Jet Black Heart.”

Note: during "Voodoo Doll," they tossed four "voodoo dolls" into the audience. In reality, they were inflatable dolls wearing wigs. Again… questionable decision. But we carry on.

As they wrapped up the main set with the song that started it all, "She Looks So Perfect," I found myself grinning when they pulled off their synchronized punk jump one more time.

For the encore, the band returned with all the energy in the world for the new album's title track, "Everyone's a Star!," before truly closing out the night with fan favorite "Youngblood."

The star-shaped confetti finally settles. The band leaves the stage. The ringing in your ears will probably stick around for another hour.

Smiling to myself, I realized that bands grow and change—just like we do. When a band that's tied to so many memories begins to evolve, it's easy to worry that something is being lost. But this next chapter doesn't erase the old ones. It doesn't diminish those memories. Instead, it gives you permission to appreciate where you are now while still cherishing where you've been.

And to remember that with 5 Seconds of Summer, everyone's a star.