Hot 5 Seconds of Summer Heat up the Armory

Last updated on September 3rd, 2023 at 07:54 am

Playing to a packed Armory in Minneapolis, 5 Seconds of Summer fired up their fans in a concert filled with their charisma, talent, and good-time rock and roll.

The Australian quartet that gained popularity by singing about American Apparel underwear is comprised of drummer Ashton Irwin, guitarist Michael Clifford, bassist Calum Hood, and lead singer/guitarist Luke Hemmings. And while Hemmings is the clear frontman, each band member feels like an equally integral part.

And that was on full display at this performance, as each member shared the spotlight either by singing lead vocals on a song or entertaining the crowd between songs.

Frequent videos entertained the crowd, starting with a safety video done in the style of a 1950s commercial, perfect for showcasing their humor while getting an important message across. Luckily, that message was well-received; before the show started, several guests had to be passed over the barrier for various medical concerns.

Other times, the video screens had colorful, animated lyrics fueling fervent sing-alongs. A fun moment was a video game-style drum solo versus the crowd noise meter. Another interlude had the band shown in robes at a hotel before being magically whisked back for an encore, arriving on stage in those same robes.

As for the music, when the curtain dropped, they led with “Bad Omens” and jumped right into “2011”. Before the second song even finished, confetti filled the venue, turning that song’s nostalgic lament into a celebration.

They paced their 25+ song set perfectly, sharing stories and talking about how appreciative they are of the local fans. While the band took moments to banter with the crowd, they also moved without pause between many songs, like “CAROUSEL,” seamlessly turning into an abridged version of “Who Do You Love.” That kept the vibe really moving; at times, you could feel the Armory floor shake.

One highlight of the show was their concept of a “Dice Song.” While Hemmings talked about fans not always hearing their favorite songs, the monitors showed a montage of various favorites, with one to be randomly selected. A giant die was then rolled into the crowd with a song on each side.

After being passed through the crowd, the die landed back on stage, showing their 2014 song “Heartbreak Girl.” The band played it almost instantly, like it was a part of the set all along, and much to the delight of their long-time fans.

The set closed with energetic renditions of their popular hits like “Teeth” and “She Looks So Perfect,” ending with their most popular and likely most streamed song, Youngblood.

The pop band Meet Me @ the Altar did a great job warming up the crowd as an opener. Lead singer Edith Victoria mentioned being influenced by early 2000s music, which was evident in their songs like “T.M.I.” and “Say It (To My Face”). But it also shone through with their montage of covers by Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavinge, and Jonas Brothers.

All throughout this show, I saw fans dancing, jumping, and singing along. 5 Seconds of Summer made their fans feel like close friends. Even the “Best Friend Cam” showcased that relationship, and the fired-up crowd made the entire show feel like a celebration of that bond.