Hi all! I’m coming to you right now with a voice that is 75% gone, sore ankles + hips + everything in between, probably 10 combined hours of sleep for the last 48 hours and a joyful spirit. I’m currently writing this on my phone in the back of a car headed to Cincinnati for the last of three shows my friends and I are seeing on the Take My Hand World Tour. As you all know, I love 5SOS and consider this the highlight of my summer and year. I wanted to share some of my thoughts, images and lingering memories from the two shows I’ve already seen, and invite you into this really fun time!
Because I’m perpetually online and like to stay thoroughly informed and updated, I knew almost everything there was to know about this show prior to seeing it. The nightly setlist (and various changes in order to allow for unreleased tracks to have their time in the sun) has been in heavy circulation on my Spotify since April. Dutiful stan update accounts let me know whether someone is wearing purple or blue tonight, and I have ready access to loads of high quality videos and photos from each show. Besides the fact that this was my first concert since probably middle school or something, there was no possibility of a reality in which I went in blind.
What I can say is that, without a doubt, the show exceeded my expectations and preparations. When repeating the same studio versions of your all time favorite records, it’s easy to forget just how shockingly good at their jobs these guys are. There’s a reason why they make music to tour it, and have a history of treasuring shows that give them the opportunity to share their music with as many people as possible. A decade of hustling to become one of the biggest live band acts of the generation has definitely paid off, because these guys know what they’re doing.
The band is also at a unique junction of their career in which they have 10 years and 4 studio albums under their belt with many recognizable mainstream hits, but a fine tuned awareness of what their long and new time fans want to hear. They’ve managed to craft the setlist to fit every single for their upcoming album plus another unreleased track, but still throw back every night to fan faves like “Disconnected”, “Castaway” and “If Walls Could Talk”. They’re in control and essentially get to tweak the show as needed, just based upon the wealth of content to choose from.
Logistical matters aside, it has just been an incredible time! Each transition and lighting change is distinct, creating a flow from punk to rock to pop and everywhere is between seamlessly. Each member is self assured, well rehearsed, and appears impossibly confident in his abilities. Brief talk breaks between each third of the show punctuate it with city-specific banter and personalized introductions that remind you of the humanity of this monstrous entity of sound and glitter that appears in front of thousands of people every night.
As someone who has had the opportunity to observe the band’s growth since around 2016, it’s truly incredible to see a meteoric rise and devotion to creation like they have maintained. These are regular people from the suburbs of West Sydney who understand live music and its power, and aren’t afraid to harness it with a forward facing charge towards making each record better than the last. Even the opening song of the evening, “No Shame”, nods to and pokes fun at the complex of fame surrounding the bombastic idea of a modern rock star, and reminds audiences of the band’s ability to fulfill that role at will. It’s only right to believe in the words they’ve written when you see all four men thrumming with energy delivering anthems of hope, vulnerability, failure, really messed up relationships and allegiance to themselves and the path they’ve chosen.
Quick highlights:
Michael Clifford is a next level guitarist. I know absolutely nothing about instruments or how to play them but I know that whatever he is doing is otherworldly and beyond my comprehension, and I think it’s something one just has to see to understand.
The transition from “Easier” a la Vault Remix to “More” is something the body can’t prepare for, you just have to endure it in the moment.
My friends and I have observed the trend of business casual boxy button downs in recent show fits and the corresponding running gag that Calum is sweating through his wool sweaters.
“Blender”, the band’s newest (and best yet IMHO) single for 5SOS5, is a revelation when played live. From an extended bridge to looping refrains over the insane saxophone (?!?!?!?!!!!) on the final chorus, it’s just so damn fun to dance along to. I’m glad they put it out when they did, but also wish the world had known it sooner.
Anyway, if you can see this show or this band live, please go do it. You won’t regret it, I promise I promise! If not, at least stream the Meet You There Tour live album to tide yourself over. That’s what I did! See you next week, after I’ve fully recovered and drank gallons of hot tea.