On Saturday night, Australian superstars 5 Seconds of Summer took centre stage at Manchester’s Co-op Live as part of their Everyone’s a Star! World Tour. As a band that is seemingly still framed by their early, more youthful breakthrough, 5SOS arrived in Manchester with a point to prove. Their set felt less like a nostalgic victory lap and more like a bold reassertion of their identity as a band with lasting credibility. It was clear that they have moved far beyond the label of boyband royalty into a seasoned, confident live act.
The opening stretch of their set was dominated by new material. Performances of ‘NOT OK’ and ‘No. 1 Obsession’ set an ambitious tone. Despite the technical difficulties that disrupted both tracks, the band perservered with admiral composure and maintained momentum throughout. If anything, these hiccups seemed to only heighten the crowd’s energy, as anticipation built for everything to resume normally again. Their focus on high-intensity, new songs at the start of the set underscored their commitment to evolution. They definitely made it clear that they’re far from content to just coast on their 2010s image.
The set then seamlessly transitioned into a sense of comfortable familairity with songs ‘Teeth’, ‘Easier’ and ‘More’, before transporting the crowd back to the world of ‘Everyone’s a Star’. When performing tracks from their latest record, the 5SOS boys leaned fully into a sleeker, synth-inflected palette. This signalled how far they’ve drifted from their pop-punk adolescence, without abandoning its urgency entirely. A clear standout in this vein was definitely ‘istillfeelthesame’, with its irresistable synth lines surging through the crowd with propulsive energy.
The band carefully structured the show into different ‘acts,’ with ‘The Yearning’ being perhaps the most memorable. It opened with ‘Bad Omens’, a track pulsing with bittersweet nostalgia, before transitioning into fan-favourite ‘Ghost Of You’. The crowd sang alongside the band in unison as phone torches illuminated the space. The melancholic undertones of the song slowed the pace, perfectly embodying the reflective spirit that the act’s title suggests. ‘I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again’ closed the act. This emotionally charged track, performed with their new signature synths and a more cinematic edge, allowed this act to reach a powerful conclusion.
Despite the overall set being governed by a relentless verve, the band still managed to weave in moments of intimacy. The solo section served as a compelling spotlight on their individual artist paths. It offered a moment of subtle reflection before they regrouped as a band. They then returned with legacy cuts like ‘Amnesia’, ‘Voodoo Doll’ and ‘She Looks So Perfect’. These songs truly reignited the crowd’s enthusiasm. A wave of undeniable nostalgia took over the arena as the band transported the crowd back to their debut.
To close the night, the band returned for an unforgettable encore. They re-entered through the pit to perform the eponymous track, ‘Everyone’s a Star!‘ The crowd erupted in pure excitement, a testament to the band’s effortless command over their audience. This is proof of just how far they’ve evolved with their newer repertoire. They closed the show with ‘Youngblood‘, a song that transcended mere crowd-pleasing. Instead, it served as a poignant reminder of their origins. Overall, it showcased how seamlessly they’ve transitioned from era to era.
To conclude, it is safe to say that the Everyone’s a Star! World Tour stands as 5SOS’ most ambitious, daring endeavour yet. From neon-drenched visuals to an onstage car prop, every detail radiated ambition and scale. Their overall execution, combined with a high-octane performance, delivered an incredible night for their Mancunian fans. When they told the crowd that ‘Everyone’s a Star’, they didn’t just say it. They made the whole arena feel it too.
Words by Lucy Thomas
Photos by Sub Khan
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