Featured image and photography: Aaron Parsons / Press
Haiden Henderson isn’t a name known to many in Manchester, but the Californian rockstar certainly made sure to leave a lasting impression. With sensual and sexy songs, Henderson really knows how to heat up a crowd in more ways than one. Unreleased track ‘Freak For You’ sets a clear image of Henderson as an artist who unashamedly explores sexuality and intimacy through his art. With a fantastic cover of Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’ thrown in for good measure, Henderson leaves a high bar to clear for the next support act of the night.
Straight out of a 2000s skatepark, South Arcade furiously warm up the crowd with their high impact and punchy tunes. Lead singer Harmony Caville shouts out the song ‘Nepo Baby’, a venomous track calling out nepotism in the music industry.
During the set, South Arcade must stop the show a handful of times for passed-out fans in the crowd, an unfortunate and frequent side effect of gigs with extreme queuing and camping culture. Cutting final song ‘Stone Cold Summer’ short, South Arcade’s set reaches a jarring and abrupt end. A shame for the rising stars.
The difficulties continue for 5 Seconds of Summer as they take the stage, much to lead singer Luke Hemmings frustration, as the entire sound system shuts off throughout opening songs ‘Not OK’ and ‘No.1 Obsession’, eventually forcing a restart after the disturbance. However, once the technical difficulties are resolved, 5SOS comfortably launch into a five-act performance, featuring many satirical videos that slot between each act.
Through a reverse chronological setlist, the band takes the audience on a journey that covers their whole career, giving their new album tunes their chance to shine while still embracing the original hit songs that brought them to this stage.
The Everyone’s a Star! tour is embraced wholeheartedly by fans, with star clips, themed makeup, outfits, and even full-on star costumes littering the arena. Star confetti, big red star balls, and other star motifs add to the celestial theme. These motifs allow fans to feel part of the show and more connected to what’s happening on stage, as well as to a community that has been crafted over the past 14 years, bringing together people of all ages, nationalities, sexualities, and genders. Maintaining this so strongly is a commendable part of this band’s career
A strong concluding run of their biggest hits from their debut album, including ‘Amnesia’, ‘She Looks So Perfect’, and ‘English Love Affair,’ leaves fans overwhelmed with nostalgia but happy to see every member still happily performing each song with as much vigour and passion as they would have 10 – or even 14 – years ago. After a walk through the crowd during ‘Everyone’s a Star!’, the lads reconvene on stage to end with smash hit ‘Youngblood’. As the third and final confetti drop falls, Luke, Ashton, Calum and Micheal sincerely thank the fans, who in turn thank them for providing an exceptional evening of music and showmanship.
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