All Bingo

So tonight was the 5 Seconds Of Summer gig, yipee!

That meant going to Birmingham and I didn’t leave until just after 4. I didn’t really spend any time in Birmingham itself, just heading to the venue. And ugh there’s road works on the way there too! Has everyone decided to do it at once? I was hoping to pick up some food on the way but honestly the noise put me off even looking.

At the venue I joined the queue and didn’t have too long to wait to get inside. A merch stand was right in front of the doors but the queue stretched right round the venue, until a member of staff pointed out there was a second stand round the corner. I got a tee and a badge, but it’s annoying they also had paper bags for people but only if you met a certain limit… but didn’t say what it was. That was annoying cause it did look nice. If it had been £50 I’d have just got another pin but I suspect it was higher.

(I’m also annoyed the tour merch on the site lists a keyring and bracelet, neither of which actually seem to be at shows thus far)

Then I got to my ep seat and it was a pretty good view, on the opposite side of the stage to where I was last time and a little closer. It’s funny the last time I was there was for Sleep Token, which felt almost like a religious experience, 5 Seconds was a different experience altogether but I’ll get to that.

First a complaint. The venue had awful Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi at parx was fine the whole time I used it, for this show the wi-fi connected for 0.2 seconds (enough to get notifications) but then wouldn’t connect again. It feels absurd a venue that big doesn’t have working wi-fi. Ugh.

Anyway! There were two supports, the first was a band called Haiden Henderson, fronted by a blonde American twink in a leather jacket. They were pretty good, also did a cover of poker face. The second band were South Arcade and they were ok. I didn’t vibe with them really, but that’s ok, supports can be hit or miss.

Then I decided to use my kindle app on the phone, reading some of Strange Pictures chapter 1, which I finished on the train home. It’s such a clever concept using art like that as well as text and I’m curious what the rest will be like.

Before I go further, here is a picture of the stage (and a good idea of my view). As you can see the stage also has a ring with a small pit in the middle, at the back is Ashton’s drumkit, set atop the front of a limo (see ). Also here is the stage lit up. (There was also three large screens, one either side of the stage and third big curved one behind it)

When the show started text came up, about how 5 seconds of summer were a band doing a show in Birmingham, then ending that is was ‘their final performance’ it felt a tad like those found footage films that start with text saying similar things. The show was interspersed with videos of the band, documentary style but clearly not serious and they were pretty funny at times.

Like with the Waterparks show the gig was split into a total of seven ‘acts’: The Peak, The Fall, The Yearning, The Breakup, The Rise, The Beginning, The Return. The basic story, told via the videos, was them winning an award, going off the rails, breaking up, then coming back together as a band. (One scene also had them in bandages and Ashton with an eye patch which… eye patch hot)

The funniest part was probably a bit in the second act where they had a slideshow, where they all did some talking, some of it clearly improv,, especially the section on ‘know your local pop culture’. (Every place is different ours was this) And there was a comment from Luke that Calum’s legs were ‘too close together’ which is wild when he’s wearing a skirt/kilt.

One of my favourite parts was how, at the start of one act, Ashton’s drumkit rise up on a platform in the middle of the loop so he was playing to the crowd. It was nice cause everyone else could move around the length of it, but obviously he couldn’t cause drummer (he did go there with a guitar fir an acoustic song)

Speaking of Ashton another highlight was his drumkit having multiple cameras which meant he got to be on the big screens, showing off his big sweaty arms which was very… nghhh. Please bands do this more, we need to show drummers love.

Due to my positioning I missed some of the gay antics. I saw Luke preparing to get on his knees and got flashed by lights so missed it. Also there was a few times of Luke, Calum and Micheal close but they were also either hit by pits or the other side of the stage. I did appreciate Calum in his kilt this one in plaid (I still think the first black one was best). Speaking of outfits Ashton was still in his black one which I love, with stars on it (and wouldn’t look out of place in a fetish club).

Music wise they played. A lot of songs I love, No Shame, Teeth, Easier, Everyone’s A Star (saved till the encore oddly despite it being the tour name), Evolve, Boyband, Not Okay. Thankfully they didn’t play Ghost but they also didn’t play The Rocks or Red Desert either, or Valentine.

The breakup section had them all playing solo songs which was nice. Ashton is super talented to sing while drumming (though I wish it had been one from Blood On The Drummers) and Micheal’s was Enough which really got me. But it was nice to have them all playing one of their songs with the others.

I’m sure I’m missing one thing or another about the set, (partly cause not remembering, partly cause missing it) but it was a lot of fun. It was really awesome to finally see them and I just know I’ll see them again if they come back, cause they put on a great show, not just performance wise, but all the bits were so funny.

(There was also confetti and I got two pieces)

I just know the whole thing is gonna lead to 5sos fic and everything else put on hold until I at least do one. What? Who knows.

The way back was a pain cause the way I was familiar with was closed off, but I got to the station in amble time and got some cheap sushi to nom on, then finished Strange pictures on the way.