5 Seconds of Summer brought their Everyone’s a Star tour to their first-ever show in Baltimore on Sunday with a highly theatrical show at CFG Bank Arena. The Aussie quartet rose to stardom in the mid-2010s as teenage heartthrobs. Their debut album Sounds Good, Feels Good launched them into the spotlight and their subsequent tour as openers with One Direction solidified their place as one of the decade’s most beloved boy bands. 5 Seconds of Summer released their 6th studio album, Everyone’s a Star in November of last year. In March, they kicked off the Everyone’s a Star tour which will run through November, with nearly 90 shows across the world. 5SOS tapped The Band Camino to open the North American leg of the Everyone’s a Star tour.
The Band Camino is an indie-rock trio from Memphis, Tennessee. They released their 4th album, NeverAlways (Vol. 2) last month. They kicked off the show with a beachy, electro-indie pop set. Playing a mix of their latest songs and older ones, the 10-track setlist provided an intimate atmosphere to the crowded arena. The group’s energy helped set the tone for the evening.
5 Seconds of Summer The Everyone’s a Star tour presents a highly theatrical storytelling of their career. The show was divided into 6 acts separated by video interludes. Each act correlated with a specific era of the band’s career, from their beginnings as teenage popstars (The Beginning), their hiatus and solo careers (The Breakup) and their reunion and current music (The Peak). Despite the massive arena crowd of 7,000+, the band still found creative ways to engage with fans throughout the show. Before the show, QR codes allowing fans to vote for a surprise song were displayed on the arena screens. During the show, fans were selected from the audience to participate in various scripted segments including a presentation of the ‘Boyband of the Year Award’.
5SOS mentioned repeatedly that this was their first show in Baltimore and highlighted everything they did in the city. During one interlude, a PowerPoint showing their (embellished) day in Baltimore was displayed on stage. Their day included a visit to the aquarium, throwing the first pitch at an Orioles game, and having Sisqó teach them the thong song. They got several cheers when they mentioned testing their digestive systems with $1 oysters and orange crushes. While slightly fabricated, the slideshow was a great way for the band to tie-in Baltimore culture with their show.
5 Seconds of Summer are in their 15th year together but show no signs of slowing down. The Everyone’s a Star tour highlights the highs and lows of their careers while gently poking fun at the boyband stereotype. The 25+ song setlist spans 15 years of memories with the band while proving that their peak is yet to come. The Everyone’s a Star tour will continue through November. If you missed their Baltimore show, they will return near the DMV in August with a show in Richmond. The Band Camino will remain on the tour as the opening act.
Final grade: A+
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