5 Seconds of Summer is your favorite“Boyband”

by Andrea Garcia

On November 14, 2025, 5 Seconds of Summer released their album “EVERYONE’S A STAR!”, for some reason this such a fitting album name for a band that has grown up in front of our eyes, formed in 2011 by posting cover music videos on YouTube 5sos has established themselves as one the most iconic and recognized “boy bands around the world” (quite literally they win the best boy band award every night since their tour began in March in the UK).

There is something fitting about 5 Seconds of Summer naming an era EVERYONE’S A STAR!. They are a band that grew up through fan edits, online jokes, iconic livestream moments, and the kind of internet loyalty that turns casual listeners into lifelong fans, this album feels less like a distant pop-rock rollout and more like an invitation. 5SOS are not pretending their fandom does not exist, on the contrary, they are inviting it and are not running from the chronically online nature of it either. Instead, they seem to be much more leaning into it (cue the TikTok’s) through the music, the visuals, the humor, and even the way

fans are being brought into the experience through VIP press conferences and soundcheck moments.

In an era we’re connecting with artists at times feels complicated - Ticketmaster you are my enemy - 5SOS are constantly trying to feel reachable without losing their mystery, and they may have found their own answer: make the fans part of the show. “Everyone is a Star” the album feels different from any previous 5sos project, it feels more confident, more natural, it’s a more in your face type of album while still keeping its fun. “EAS” leans into a self-aware, bold pop-rock/dance-pop direction. With many reviews describing the album as experimental, energetic, and aware of the band’s history.

This era works mostly because of how rooted it is in self-awareness. “Boyband” is a prime example of this, they are not just confronting a reputation that has followed them around for years (the image of that rolling stone cover comes to mind). Instead they are using it to their advantage. The band isn't telling a joke, they are embracing it living inside it and letting it become part of their story.

With that being said, on Tuesday, June 16 I had the privilege of attending one of the dates for the “Everyone is a Star” Tour at State Farm Arena, and right off the bat I could tell it would be a great show. As the band themself said “they wasted no expense on the stage” and you tell that was the intention with a large circular stage placed in the middle of the arena, the show was designed to make the space feel open, connected, and welcoming.

The feeling of connection and intent was present throughout the whole night, 5SOS organised their setlist in honor to please both longtime fans and new listeners with a combo of older songs and the new era. They also made it an immersive experience by adding lore drops, an Atlanta take over powerpoint and even the city’s unofficial barking tradition in honor of college football. One of my favorite moments was a parody of Nicole Kidman’s amc trailer, letting us know that when we're together in a place like this “...somehow heartbreak girl feels good in a place like this...”.

To share a bit more of my experience, the audience play a huge role in what made the night feel connected, I tend to go to concerts by myself so it was fun when I happened to be adopted by two best friends in attendance who the made the experience feel as if I was sharing it with own best friends. Sadly, I gave them my number wrong, which is very tragic and very on brand, but the moment still stayed with me. It reminded me that part of 5SOS’s strength has always been the fandom itself.

Fans also seemed to get the memo regarding the visual message the album had going on. Most of the crowd's outfits consisted of a mid-2000s/Y2K-inspired aesthetic adding sparkles and stars. At times, this era in particular feels as a satire of celebrity culture, but it never loses its true meaning. 5SOS allows every single one of their members to shine, highlighting hits of their own solo projects. EVERYONE’S A STAR! was not only about the fans being included; it was also about each member being allowed to step into their own spotlight.

Sadly, something I will regret for the rest of my life will be the fact that I didn't attend the VIP experience but talking with fans who did seem to have truly enjoyed the experience. The

event consisted of a press conference set up and a soundcheck giving fans some humor and behind the scenes look. That kind of encounter fits perfectly with the world of EVERYONE’S A STAR! because the tour does not treat fans like observers. It invites them in.

Overall, 5SOS’s sixth album and its tour cycle show a band that has learned how to embrace its own history. EVERYONE’S A STAR! works because it understands who is listening clearly, who is welcoming the nostalgia, the internet humor, the emotional attachment, and the desire to feel included (they do give fans the opportunity to participate in choosing a song for the playlist). All these moments bring real fans and the band together making it feel part of something bigger than a regular concert. To quote Micheal Clifford in the amc parody video “real bands save fans, real fans save bands."