5SOS and Pale Waves Bring a Summer Party to CMCUA
The Take My Hand World Tour Finally Hits Charlotte
Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, but give me an extra serving of 5SOS, please. That’s right, the Aussie pop-rockers 5 Seconds of Summer are finally back on the road after a two-year delay due to, well by know I shouldn’t even have to say it, but, Covid-19, which put a damper on many band’s touring plans. Anticipation for the show was high and when 5SOS rolled into Charlotte, the question became, would it be worth the wait? The answer, judging by the sold-out crowd of screaming, young, mostly female fans, was a resounding yes!
As I walked up to the Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre, to say the excitement level was high for all those around me would be an understatement. The crowd was absolutely buzzing and glowing, even hours before the concert began. And after waiting so long for their favorite band to arrive in North Carolina, who could blame them? There were throngs of fans packing the venue with groups of friends, moms with their daughters, and girlfriends and boyfriends all getting ready for what would be the party of the summer in Charlotte.
To get things started, we had the pleasure of checking out UK rockers Pale Waves. The band has been around since 2014, but really started gaining a following after the release of their 2017 single “Television Romance.” Led by lead vocalist and guitarist, Heather Baron-Gracie, Pale Waves is a great mix of indie-rock, pop, and pop-punk. They are due to release their third album Unwanted on August 12 so I was eager to hear what they would bring to the stage.
Kicking off their set with “Change,” Baron-Gracie quickly took control of the crowd, pointing, and posing before it was time for a little “Television Romance.” Lead guitarist Hugo Silvani offered up crunching riffs while bassist Charlie Wood and drummer Ciara Doran drove the pace. With songs like their latest single “Jealousy,” Pale Waves is destined for greatness. Their combination of catchy rhythms and grooving beats is sure to please even the toughest critic and there is no doubt that Baron-Gracie is a superstar in the making. Their set may have been short, but it was more than enough to win over the hearts of the fans in attendance.
During the break between sets, a series of comic clips began to play on the giant LED screens above the rear stage, further driving up the level of excitement and anticipation among the crowd as we waited for 5SOS to make an appearance. In fact, a group of young fans in front of me was on the verge of tears or a minor heart attack as they shrieked and screamed for 5SOS! Finally, the stage went black and suddenly lit up in a blaze of white light and fog as 5 Seconds of Summer appeared in a group in the middle of the stage. Quickly they took their places and launched into “No Shame” from their 2020 Calm album.
Frontman Luke Hemmings was on fire as his voice soared over the thousands of adoring fans who were singing along to each and every song, word for word, all night long. He pointed, gasped, flung his guitar, and showed sincere appreciation for everyone that came out to see the band. Michael Clifford was stellar on lead guitar as his style went from rock to pop and everything in between while bassist Calum Scott kept the rhythms thumping. Drummer Ashton Irwin tore into each and every song, attacking his kit with a vengeance.
The LED screens were changing from lights to images of the band and different scenes throughout the night to match each song. My personal favorites were the blinking lasers that made it look like a starry night sky during “Easier.” It gave an otherworldly appearance to the stage and was a great way to highlight each band member. As the crowd sang along, 5SOS was at the top of their game, giving us four new songs off their upcoming album 5SOS5 which comes out this September, and a little bit of everything from their catalog. During included “Wildflower” fans raised flowers in the air, swaying back and forth to the music, and shouted at the top of their lungs for the quirky “Pizza.” After closing with “Jet Black Heart,” 5SOS returned for a two-song encore, playing the poignant “Ghost of You” while thousands of cellphones lit up the Charlotte night sky before bringing it home with the “ooh, ooh, oohs” of “Youngblood.”
What a night it was with 5 Seconds of Summer providing all the love, energy, and memories that made many young girls’ dreams come true. I’m sure that the hype from the show will last all summer long. Be sure to check out the Take My Hand World Tour if you can and always ask for some extra 5SOS.
