Live Review: 5 Seconds of Summer @ Utilita Arena, Cardiff

Words: Abigail Jones
Photo Credit: Derek Bremner

Fifteen years of being a band have taught 5 Seconds of Summer the importance of depth in emotional song writing and the value of a dedicated fan base. But is their success dependent on these lifelong fans? As they reinvent themselves, do they retain the same appeal that first drew audiences in their teenage years? Fans in Cardiff had been awaiting their return to the Welsh capital since the last time they performed there in 2022.

Following the release of their sixth album ‘Everyone’s a Star!‘, the Australian quartet are embarking on a world tour. The band have a busy schedule ahead of them, playing shows in over 70 cities as well as performing at festivals like Lollapalooza and Cowboys Music Festival in the summer. They’re set to conclude their tour in Perth, Australia this November.

Joining 5SOS on this night was Haiden Henderson. Hailing from across the Atlantic, Henderson has already stepped his foot through the door of the pop scene as the creator of four spectacular studio projects. With the release of his latest deluxe EP ‘tension (heightened)‘ last November, he brings the “most honest music (he’s) ever made” into the world. Opening his set with the title track of the latter EP was a brilliant way of throwing the crowd into the deep end of his sound and character. Following tracks like ‘Lovesucker‘ and ‘Sweat‘ demonstrated Henderson’s confidence when storytelling the intimate parts of his life. As a performer, he doesn’t shy away from vulnerability, he embodies a spirit that can only be carried by that of an artist completely in tune with both his music and his audience. As well as his own songs, Henderson treated Cardiff to a bit more of a familiar sound with a striking cover of ‘Poker Face‘ by Lady Gaga. He encapsulated the pop feel that comes with the original song yet still made it his own with heavy guitar that radiated a deeper, edgier style. With over 28 million streams on Spotify, it was expected that ending the set with ‘hell of a good time‘ would be the perfect send-off, getting the crowd pumping and swept off their feet from this lively performance.

Despite this being his final night supporting 5SOS on tour, he’s continuing to entice crowds with his own headline run across North America next June, proving that this is only the beginning of his pop star journey.

Alternative pop rock band South Arcade were next to take the stage and they didn’t fail to keep the momentum going. Upon entering, each member was introduced with a voiceover announcement, “enter player one”, enter player two” etc. Immediately, it was clear that this charismatic lot would put on a fun show for the eager crowd. ‘FEAR OF HEIGHTS‘ was the opening track that introduced the audience to the jumpy sound that makes up South Arcade. With Harry Winks’s ringing guitar riffs and the punchy foundations of Ollie Green’s bass, they deliver the relentless drive of ‘stone cold summer‘ and ‘HOW 2 GET AWAY WITH MURDER‘ flawlessly. There’s no doubt that lead singer Harmony Cavelle’s performance fits her name. Her strong voice works harmoniously with the way she prances across the stage and emits an infectious, refreshing energy. Her magnetism is admirable and reminiscent of the likes of alternative stars; Avril Lavigne and Gwen Stefani during her early days with No Doubt. Their influence seeps into Cavelle’s fashion, as well as her captivating charm when interacting with the crowd. Cardiff was a hometown show for drummer Cody Jones. Dressed in a Cymru rugby top, he expressed how special it was to perform in the same arena where he’s grown up watching other bands play. Perhaps being on home turf intensified his outstanding drumming skills, but it’s only fair to say that his talent doesn’t go unnoticed when playing fiery fills in ‘2005‘, regardless of the venue.

In celebration of Easter Sunday, Cavelle threw bags of mini eggs into the crowd which definitely earned some smiles and new fans in return! “Do you mind if we play a new one?” Cavelle then asked, before playing ‘Superman‘, which will be released on April 10th. It would be easy to assume that South Arcade are ready to take on arenas themselves with the amount of confidence and stage presence they already have. They’ve also proven they can slow down their pace and create emotional masterpieces like ‘Blood Run Warm‘ which had the crowd shining phone flashlights.

Even without lightly bribing the crowd with free mini eggs, South Arcade have certainly placed their name in the good books of pop-rock fans, rightfully earning their spot opening for 5SOS.

After a phenomenal start to the evening, it could only get better when 5 Seconds of Summer were due to enter. As the room dimmed, the white light of the screen flickered to reveal the quartet in a pink limousine. With a rugby ball and Welsh flag in hand, the band know how to personalise their show into a unique experience for every city. Emerging from the car on stage was guitarist Michael Clifford, bassist Calum Hood, drummer Ashton Irwin, and main vocalist Luke Hemmings. Every thunderous drum fill slowly formed into the foundation of lead single ‘NOT OK‘ from their latest album. Following shortly after were ‘No. 1 Obsession‘ and ‘istillfeelthesame‘, continuing the momentum and carrying the spark of ‘Everyone’s a Star!‘. Confetti flooded the venue in bursts of colour as the crowd roared, welcoming the beginning of something unforgettable.

This was more than a standard concert, video intervals and labelling parts of the set into acts were what brought the experience to life. From ‘Act 1: The Peak‘, all the way through to ‘Act 7: The Return‘, the band traced their evolution with a sense of storytelling that gave the show both unity and emotional weight. All four members excelled at engaging with the crowd, encouraging them to jump and sing along, though there was little need for prompting. They even prepared a PowerPoint titled “How to have the best rock show”, which featured nods to local pop culture like “channelling your inner Tom Jones”.

5 Seconds of Summer have long shown willingness to experiment with genre and style. While their dance-driven pop tracks brought liveliness and momentum to the set, the slower moments are also well deserving of praise. 2018’s ‘Ghost Of You‘ embraced the sentimental side of the band, sharing a beautifully touching moment with the crowd. Following later with ‘Amnesia‘, which is the foundational heartbeat of their youth, deepened this emotion and resonated greatly with older fans in the audience.

‘Act 4: The Breakup‘ gave every member a chance to incorporate their personal journey into the show. It was compelling to see the different personalities and styles that fuse to mould the 5sos sound. First to the stage in a lone spotlight was Luke Hemmings, performing his debut single ‘Starting Line‘ that evokes an anthemic chorus and bridge being chanted by the crowd. Ashton Irwin, being the first of the four members to release a solo album back in 2020, invites alternative rock roots into his music while performing single ‘Have U Found What Ur Looking For‘. Next was bassist Calum Hood who brought the atmospheric ‘Don’t Forget You Love Me‘ into the venue amidst a sombre blue light. Ending this act was guitarist Michael Clifford, who was the last of the four to release his solo project ‘SIDEQUEST‘. The pop-punk origins that form 5 Seconds of Summer’s debut album are evident in Clifford’s “enough”, which invited the audience to jump after the mellowness of Hood’s previous performance.

Act 6: The Beginning, was a nostalgia trip for long time fans of the band, featuring tracks from their debut and sophomore albums. Multiplatinum hit single ‘She Looks So Perfect‘ was unsurprisingly one of the highlights of the night, uniting the crowd with the pop anthem that defined 2014. ‘English Love Affair‘ and ‘Voodoo Doll‘ reignited the beloved and familiar pop-punk energy that dominated the 2010s, contrasting the band’s maturity while still retaining their signature wit.

Returning for the encore by walking through the crowd couldn’t have been more perfect. Fans rushed to the left side of the venue to catch a glimpse of their favourite band meandering to the stage. Finally, ‘Everyone’s a Star!‘ and ‘Youngblood‘ closed the night as a dynamic duo, leaving the crowd buzzing with euphoria. After a night of dancing and getting lost in the music together, it’s safe to say that everyone left feeling like a star.

Although some might argue the fanbase is blinded by nostalgia, it’s unfair to suggest the band lack self awareness. They’ve been notably witty in how they lean into the “boyband” tag, using it to craft a knowingly satirical image.