Scorching summer temperatures did not stop a sold-out crowd of fans to gather for the 5 Seconds of Summer Show as it stopped at Huntington Bank Pavilion in Chicago on August 23rd. With 25+ songs on the setlist spanning an entire career’s catalog, the band gave an airtight performance despite the heat, with captivating lights and visuals, video interludes providing an immersive experience, and several moments encouraging crowd participation.

Opening act Meet Me @ The Altar provided an energetic set comprised of songs from their debut full-length album, Past // Present // Future, and a medley of cover songs that engaged and excited the crowd, including Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” and the Jonas Brothers’ “Burnin’ Up”. Closing their set with their own hits “Say It (To My Face)” and “Kool”, the band’s up-tempo, jump-friendly brand of pop rock provided the perfect warmup for the headline act yet to come.

The entire amphitheater roared with excitement as 5 Seconds of Summer took the stage. With a setlist that pulled old favorites “She’s Kinda Hot” and “Don’t Stop” out of retirement for the first time in five years, featured live debuts of 5SOS5 tracks “You Don’t Go to Parties” and “Best Friends”, and included all the band’s major commercial hits such as “Who Do You Love”, “Amnesia”, and “Want You Back”. The band’s setlist was expertly curated and even more tastefully executed, with songs flowing into one another seamlessly and interpolated directly from one into another. Twenty-eight songs zoomed by in what felt like a breeze, much needed on the hottest of Chicago summer days. The highlight of the night was without a doubt the band’s unique take on the popular surprise song format that is sweeping a number of major concert tours this summer. A massive inflatable dice is thrown into the crowd, with a deep cut’s title written on each side, and whichever side the dice lands on when returned to the stage is what the band selects to play.

The spontaneity and fan participation of the surprise song portion of the night speaks to a point that 5 Seconds of Summer made repeatedly when speaking throughout the night: that they feel very personally connected to their fans and want to ensure the fans feel satisfied, included, and appreciated throughout the show. From playing fan-demanded deep cuts, stopping the show for a brief intermission to ensure safety in the heat, and ending the night with massive singalongs to their quintessential singles “She Looks So Perfect” and “Youngblood”, there was something for every concertgoer present at the show.

Review by Trevor Hancock