Introduction:
One thing about me is that I love going to concerts, specifically to see 5 Seconds of Summer. I have seen them live in concert 7 times now, and they really are a sense of continuity in my life, especially through all of the change I have experienced in the last decade. After 5 Seconds of Summer, also known as 5SOS (pronounced like five sauce) opened for One Direction on their 2014 ‘Take Me Home’ tour (which I am still so upset that I missed) they skyrocketed to fame as the next band made up of cute teenage boys. Naturally, I was obsessed with them. Since seeing their music video for the song “Try Hard” and falling in love, I have seen them at the Xcel Energy Center three times. The first two occasions were their headlining tours, referred to as the ‘Rock Out with your Socks Out’ tour in 2015, and the ‘Sounds Live Feels Live’ tour in 2016. After that, they took a little break, which obviously broke my heart, but they were back in Minneapolis at The Armory in 2018, and of course I was there. Shortly after, in 2019, they opened for The Chainsmokers at the Xcel Energy Center. I was not crazy about The Chainsmokers, so I stayed for 5SOS and left after that. The summer of 2022, I purchased a VIP ticket to their show at the Armory, which would permit me to go to their soundcheck and get early entry to the venue. I was so excited, but then my friend decided to plan her wedding for that day and unfortunately I was unable to go. Luckily, I have friends that are just as crazy for this band as I am, and we took a road trip to St. Louis, Missouri to see their ‘Take My Hand’ tour. This summer, in the great year of 2023, I finally got to experience the VIP package in Minneapolis at the Armory, and also travelled to see them again in Chicago. This blog post will review my overall experience at both of these respective shows.
5SOS Chicago:
Two of my very good friends, Ellie and Gabby, accompanied me on this journey to Chicago, because we had so much fun going to Missouri the year before. We decided to leave the day of the show, and stay in Chicago after the concert. It was a six hour drive or so, but we listened to 5 Seconds of Summer the whole way there and really had a grand time. The day of the concert, Chicago was in an excessive heat advisory and the ‘feels like’ temperature was 101 degrees throughout this outdoor concert, so it was a little warm to say the least.
The heat didn’t stop our excitement though, as we went to this concert completely blind, without looking at the setlist, and doing our best to ignore all Tweets and TikToks about the show. This really added to our experience, as the band pulled out one banger after the other. Additionally, we were relaxed and comfortable because we got nosebleeds, and didn’t have to fight for a good spot. We also found out that they had a surprise song, similar to Taylor Swift, with her Eras Tour. This song was chosen by rolling an inflatable die into the crowd. The song that we got to hear in Chicago was “Voodoo Doll,” a song from their first album that we hadn’t heard live in years. We had the time of our lives, despite the half an hour walk back to the hotel while soaked in sweat.
My Ratings:
Venue: 7/10
Surprise Song Excitement: 6/10
View: 3/10
Atmosphere/Vibes: 9/10
Total: 25 Points
5SOS Minneapolis:
This concert experience was really unlike any other. The Armory is a huge venue that’s all general admission, so you really have to arrive early if you want to get a good view. Gabby and Ellie joined me again, along with our other friend, Maddie, and we decided to finally get the VIP/soundcheck experience. Even though this package granted early entry, we knew that we would need to arrive very early, due to the intense nature of 5SOS fans. We arrived at the venue at 3:30 am the morning of the concert, and I was 92nd in line. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it really was worth it. We brought camp chairs, books, cards, and snacks for our 14 hour wait to be let into the venue.
The soundcheck experience was crazy, because we ended up being around the 3rd row, and I could really see the members of the band in high definition. After loving them for years, it was crazy to see that they’re real people. The show that followed was also unforgettable. Any exhaustion I felt from that long day faded away while I experienced that masterpiece of a setlist so close to the band. “Heartbreak Girl” from their first album was the surprise song for this show, and that also did not disappoint. This was definitely a contender for the best concert I have ever been to.
My Ratings:
Venue: 6/10
Surprise Song Excitement: 8/10
View: 10/10
Atmosphere/Vibes: 10/10
Total: 34 points
Conclusion:
I would highly recommend going to a 5 Seconds of Summer show if you’re looking for a great time! They put on a great show, and have great energy. If concerts aren’t your things, you should stream their music here, to find your new favorite artist!
Bonnie Young 