Show Review, Photos: 5 Seconds of Summer Bring The Heat and Memories to Phoenix
5 Seconds of Summer
w/ Meet Me At The Altar
September 13th, 2023
Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Phoenix, AZ
Review and Photos by Samantha Bass
The heat couldn't stop 7,000 fans from gearing up to hear what 5 Seconds of Summer’s show had in store for them on Wednesday, September 13th at Phoenix’s Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre. Even before the show began, fans were meeting up to trade friendship bracelets containing song lyrics and inside jokes, mentally preparing for the show to come. The band - comprised of members Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, Calum Hood, and Ashton Irwin - absolutely delivered the show of a lifetime for old and new fans alike.
Kicking things off was Meet Me at The Altar, a band hailing from the East Coast that has been making waves in the pop punk scene for quite some time. While their set was an introduction to some, they absolutely had their own fans right up at the rail bringing the energy along with the trio onstage. Starting with "Same Language," there was no denying the band's charisma immediately getting the pit moving and dancing along. Vocalist Edith Victoria brings an intense passion for music that is clear from the moment she hits the first note, taking the entire length of the stage to interact with the crowd. It would be hard to not find yourself dancing along as the three-piece sport the biggest smiles, covering pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne's "Complicated" along with the Jonas Brothers’ "Burnin' Up" and Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone." It's clear even after they leave the stage, they have definitely impacted the vibe of the amphitheater.
Before they even stepped foot on stage, the venue’s video feed played a number of skits featuring the members of 5 Seconds of Summer that have become a staple in their live shows. It was a perfect setup to the goofiness that was about to ensue. The curtain sporting their band name drops to reveal the 4 piece, taking in the crowd and their cheers. Beginning with "Bad Omens", the band had the entire place electrified, with the fans almost louder than the band themselves. This band is all about the theatrics, kicking off the set with a burst of colorful (and biodegradable) confetti during their song "2011" which immediately flowed into "Caramel," confetti still falling to the ground.
5 Seconds of Summer and their fans have gotten pretty good at knowing each over the last decade. This seems to be why there was so much fan interaction when it came to their set. In addition to having the crowd sing back to them during crucial lyrical moments, a “surprise song” segment was included in the show, in which Hemmings threw a large inflatable dice into the crowd, allowing fans to choose the next song. This evening's was fan favorite "Wrapped Around Your Finger," a song that had been retired from their set long ago.
Other notable fan interactions included battling drummer Ashton Irwin in a noise contest - paired with an intense drum solo - before bassist Calum Hood pressed a button to shoot confetti at the crowd and guitarist Michael Clifford walked out with large condiment bottles full of streamers to throw out to the crowd. During the song "Best Friends", they showed off groups of friends in the crowd on their "Best Friend Cam" while bragging about having the best people lifting up and supporting them. These things really set their live shows apart from others artists in their genre,, proving that while they are the hands that put together the show, the fans are the people that allow them to keeping making it happen night after night,
With a packed full setlist that includes "Teeth", "Jet Black Heart" and "Youngblood" the show left fans from all walks of life happy and excited for the band's eventual return. There's quite literally nothing like the feeling of leaving a show made with love, care, and the fans in mind. With small comedy skits in between sections of the show - complete with costume changes - it’s easy to see why fans keep coming back to 5 Seconds of Summer.
5 Seconds of Summer’s world tour continues on September 23rd in Lisbon, Portugal, and will conclude with their appearance at Las Vegas’s When We Were Young Festival on October 21st and 22nd. For more information and tickets, click here.
5 Seconds of Summer Set List
Bad Omens
2011
Caramel
BLENDER
Easier
Babylon
If Walls Could Talk
She’s Kinda Hot
Amnesia
CAROUSEL
Who Do You Love
Vapor
Waste The Night
Don’t Stop
Wrapped Around Your Finger
Ghost of You
Want You Back
Disconnected
You Don’t Go To Parties
Me Myself & I
Why Won’t You Love Me
Best Friends
Meet You There
Teeth
Jet Black Heart
She Looks So Perfect
Encore:
Outer Space
Youngblood
