The line of excited fans wraps around the corner and slowly they begin to trickle inside the venue and fill the venue. Fans at the front of the barricade hold signs, hoping to get noticed during the show. As the backing band takes the stage , the crowd cheers, and the excitement is radiating off the crowd waiting for the main act.

Dean Lewis took the stage at a sold out House Of Blues in Cleveland, OH on September 23 for his The Future Is Bright Tour. This tour follows the release of his album, The Hardest Love that was released in 2022. Throughout the night he performed songs off of his new album, and also some from his earlier work. But no matter what song he played, the crowd knew the words and sang along to every song. 

While overall his performance was simple, just him and his backing band with no crazy effects, Lewis kept the crowds attention from start to finish. His stage presence and love of performing stood out from the start. He radiated positivity from the moment he walked on stage. A big smiled filled his face as he looked out onto the crowd and saw the sold out room cheering for him. His love and appreciation for the support from his fans did not go unnoticed. Fans in the audience held up hand hearts to Lewis and he returned the favor, holding up a hand heart to the crowd multiple times throughout the night. At one point, he even left the stage and stood along the barricade to sing directly to the fans.

Lewis played the guitar, piano and at times left the instruments behind and just let his vocals shine. His voice was strong and was filled the room. His vocals were able to bring emotions to life with lyrics that were personal and reflective like, “But how am I supposed to love you when I don’t love who I am?/And how can I give you all of me when I’m only half a man?” from his song “Half A Man.” While playing guitar or piano added layers of emotion to the performance, Lewis’s vocals were the star of the show. You were able to close your eyes and get lost in the music, letting the emotion overwhelm you and be in the moment. .

His energy was high from start to finish, never allowing there to be lull in the show. Even when the songs may have been on the slower side, Lewis’ stage presence and ability to interact with the crowd kept the show moving. He owned the stage and brought the songs to life. He traveled from one end of the stage to the next, engaging with every area of the crowd.

Even though many of his songs have a more somber or sad theme to them, that did not bring down the mood of the room. The crowd still sang along, letting the same emotion that Lewis brought to his vocal, take over their singing as well. They used the time to let out any emotion that they had been building up out, taking full advantage of the time to scream along to the songs that they have been able to connect with: the feelings that come with the end of a relationship, wanting to go back to times before things went wrong, thinking back to what went wrong. While Lewis may be singing about his specific relationship, they are lyrics and experiences that his fans can also connect with their own lives too. 

To break up the moments of sadness, he tried his best to provide some more lighthearted and self-aware commentary. These moments broke up the heavy emotional songs, even at times hearing a chuckle from the audience. One of the first moments this occurred was towards the beginning of the show. Lewis talked about very matter of factly about how he was about to play 20 songs all written about the same relationship. He said it in a nonchalant way, earning some laughs from the crowd. While there was definitely no hiding that the majority of his music is laced with emotions of heartbreaks, it was a nice moment to hear Lewis reference it outright. A similar moment occurred later on in the night when Lewis was talking and asking questions to the crowd and ended the segment with the comment referencing how all of his fans are sad and single, of course referencing how his songs are not the most uplifting or positive. And once again, laughs erupted from the crowd before the next song about heartbreak began and pulled on their heartstrings.

Lewis played his song ‘“Be Alright,” which was his first major hit in 2019. It was most likely the song for many in the crowd that introduced them to Dean Lewis. He played this song as his ‘last’ song (which we all know means the fake exit with an encore). Lewis took to the piano for this song. The crowd screamed the chorus “I know you love her, but it’s over, mate/It doesn’t matter, put the phone away/It’s never easy to walk away, let her go/It’ll be alright” at the top of their lungs. Lewis stood up and motioned for the crowd to sing along with him, wanting to enjoy one of the last moments of the show with the people who have helped change his life; just like how the song changed his life.

The most emotional moment of the night was when Lewis performed his song “How Do I Say Goodbye.” This song is about Lewis’s father and the fear of losing him and having to go on without him. It talks about the struggle of losing someone after they have been by your side your entire life. Lyrics like “how do I say goodbye/ to someone who has been with my whole damn life” and “You’ll always be my closest friend/ and someday we are gonna make it out/ just hold the light, just hold the light” hit you right in the heart and cause you to reflect on the relationships in your life. They make you think how hard it would be to lose important people in your life. And for those who have gone through something similar, they really hit home. It is hard to listen to the studio version of the song and not get emotional, so hearing it live was even more heartbreaking. Lewis wrote this after his father was diagnosed with cancer and was having to come to terms with the idea of possibly losing him. Fortunately, his father is in remission and is doing great. 

He closed the set with his song “Waves.” He re-entered the stage draped in the American flag to show his love for his American fans. Lewis being from Australia, so having fans all around the world is a major accomplishment for his career.

The crowd sang along and gave it all one last time. Lewis left it all on stage, taking in the love from the crowd and giving it right back. The song is powerful and features the catchy lines “It comes and goes in waves/It always does, oh it always does.” The song is also a reflective and existential moment about life with the bridge featuring “I watched my wild youth/Disappear in front of my eyes/ Moments of magic and wonder/It seems so hard to find,” which talks about how our younger years were full of excitement, but as we get older, the joy seems to go away. Then we spend our life chasing that same high, but not ever feeling it again. However, the pondering of life that may be caused from the smile did not stop Lewis from enjoying the final song of the night. A smile once again being seen on Lewis’s face as the entire room joins him in one last moment with the crowd.

Finishing the song, Lewis thanked the crowd for their support and left the stage. Then slowly, the crowd begins to empty the venue, talking about the show and processing the performance they just witnessed. 

Dean Lewis put on an emotional, but still fun and exciting night show from start to finish. He let fans sing their hearts out to songs about heartbreak and brought out their smiles and laughs. The love of and emotion from his fans could be felt from the crowd and that same energy was given right back from Lewis on stage.

Dean Lewis is currently on tour. Tickets for upcoming dates can be found on his website. You can also stream his music on all major streaming platforms.

The moment they opened the gate in Chicago, hundreds of fans were all too eager to rush through.

Seven member K-pop group Kingdom performed at Park West on September 13. The 1,000-seat venue was packed with fans, called Kingmakers or Kingme for short, who were treated to an unreal three-hour show.

Three tiers of ticket were available for sale: VVIP, VIP and T3. T3 ticket-holders were admitted into the venue for the concert at VIP. Those who could get VIP were treated to a group photo, hi-touch, VIP badge & lanyard and entry into the concert after VVIP attendees. VVIP held all the perks of VIP with the additional perks of primary entry into the concert with a numbered queue, a group photo and a fansign with Kingdom. Staff at the fan sign provided a poster for the members to sign, but fans were also allowed to bring any of Kingdom’s previous albums for the members to sign. As they spoke briefly with each member, the fan service provided certainly added an extra layer of excitement for the concert.

Unfortunately, there were some unforeseen downsides to VVIP. Considering the height of Park West’s stage, it was difficult to see the show in its entirety if you were shorter than 5’6 and couldn’t get access to the barricade. Floor work in particular was near-impossible to see in these circumstances. It begs a question every Kingme can ask themselves and will answer differently: are the fan engagements worth potentially having a worse view of the show?

For those with a good view, it was difficult to watch Kingdom’s performance without falling into a dreamlike trance. The combination of their fluid movements and ethereal beauty makes them easier to perceive as tricks of light or literal angels than idols. Even close proximity to the members, either by special perks or snapshot tickets, didn’t make them seem any more real.

Yet, they’re incredibly real. Between sets, Kingdom would address the crowd with genuine adoration and gratitude. Dressed in kimonos, the group glided across the stage and opened the show with their debut track “Excalibur.” An epic take on the legend of King Arthur’s sword, performances of this song are often ambitious, including an army of backup dancers and numerous sword props. Neither of these made an appearance, but it hardly made a difference. If you weren’t previously aware of the usual scope of the performance, it wouldn’t even feel like anything was missing. While it was visually less epic and necessitated simplified choreography at times, the group’s energy and passion weren’t hindered.

Following close was the title track from their recent album History of Kingdom: Mujin, “Dystopia,” a Japan-inspired high-energy electronic number with heavy bass and soaring vocals. In addition to other title tracks “Black Crown” and “Long Live the King,” beloved b-sides including “Love is Pain” and “Song of the Wind” made it onto the setlist. Fans were also treated to special performances of two Stray Kids songs, “Thunderous” and “Case 143,” as well as a cover of “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back” by Shawn Mendes. Once they changed into tour t-shirts and jeans, “On Air” and “Blinder” closed out the encore with a more casual tone.

In terms of fan engagement and wait times, its unarguable VVIP got the best end of the deal. Not only did they get two different opportunities to interact directly with the members of Kingdom, but primary entry spared those without coats from the chilly Chicago wind. Primary entry also meant VVIP ticket holders were directed to the floor, mere feet from the stage where Kingdom would perform.

During one of several moments the group took to further connect with their fans, the group made an exciting announcement: the next chapter in their history was just around the corner. The official announcement was made on September 19 with a new photo of their next king, maknae Jahan. Unfortunately for Kingme, they were not treated to any specific details.

“There is something we’re really sorry about,” Dann said via a translator. “I can’t give you spoilers.” The audience loudly protested, begging him to reconsider, but he stayed resolute.

“While we were giving out all these spoilers, we got in trouble,” he said before continuing in English. “I thought our managers weren’t watching, but they’re always watching.” After putting a hand to his eyebrow and scanning the audience, he comically yelled, “They’re spies!”

Despite a lack of details, fans weren’t left with nothing. Ivan expressed he “had a lot of fun recording this album” before Dann revealed they learned the choreography and filmed the music video in just three days. The final word on History of Kingdom: Jahan came from Louis, who gave him advice on being the next in line for the throne.

“As long as you listen to the feedback that Kingmakers give you, you’ll be a great king,” Louis said.

History of Kingdom: Jahan was originally scheduled to release on October 18. On September 21, their company GF Entertainment announced the pre-release would be postponed due “internal circumstances” via the group’s official fan cafe.

When the show was over, the members returned for the snapshot session. Before and at the show, fans could purchase tickets to have Polaroid photos taken with their favorite member or members. These were less formal opportunities to interact and connect with the members, where the members could get up close and personal with their fans. Regardless if fans were shy or excitable, goofy or reserved, Kingdom seemed to do what they could to make sure fans felt safe and had fun. In return, staff and fans worked together to ensure the members were comfortable in their interactions. Although it lasted for minutes at most, It made the experience all the more delightful.

While there was no complex set design or intricate costuming, watching Kingdom perform really does feel like watching seven kings at work. As attendees wait with bated breath for Kingdom’s next comeback, they can look back to the night Park West became a palace.

Kingdom’s Grand America tour wraps up in Los Angeles on October 1. Tickets can be purchased here.

The year is 2013 and my life has been consumed with my love of One Direction.

I was spending my days listening to their music, watching videos, looking on Instagram and Twitter for updates and new pictures. Their second album Take Me Home has been released and their world tour for the album is underway. Opening for them on the tour is this band from Australia called 5 Seconds Of Summer. Being the curious fangirl I am, I had to look into who this band was. If they were supporting my favorite band, I had to know everything about them. Little did I know, I would become just as in love with this band and I would be seeing them in concert for the third time ten years later. 

I saw 5 Seconds Of Summer, or 5SOS as they are more commonly known, for the third time on August 25 at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. I had previously seen them in 2015 on the Rock Out With Your Socks Out Tour and the Sounds Live Feels Live Tour in 2016. Seeing them live again was exciting, emotional and a trip down memory lane. 

I discovered 5 Seconds Of Summer going into my last year in middle school, and their music has been a part of all the big and transitional moments in my life. Their first album 5 Seconds of Summer was released the summer before I started high school. Their second album, Sounds Good Feels Good brought me and one my best friends to this day together. Their third album, Youngblood, came out right after I graduated high school and was getting ready to go away to college. Their fourth album CALM came out at the start of the COVID-19 quarantine, which I had on repeat while stuck at home waiting to see what would happen. Their fifth album 5SOS5 was one that grew on me slowly, as it was released as I was beginning my first post-college job, but still had a special place in my heart.

Needless to say, their songs became the soundtrack of my life, and listening to their music takes me right back to those times in my life. Not only that, I have watched the band grow from a small group opening for One Direction and posting videos on Youtube, to selling out tours. I can remember when their first major radio single “She Looks So Perfect” was released, and now they have put out five studio albums. It is like, as I have grown up and gone through these major milestones, so has this band I fell in love with as a 13 year old. 

Attending the 5SOS Show tour brought that feeling to life. The group played songs from throughout their career. Of course, heavily focusing on their more recent releases, but still playing songs from their early albums. It was a trip through the discography and career of 5 Seconds Of Summer and, as a fan who had been there from early on, it was an emotional and exciting time. The show was a chance for us to hear all the stages of their career, from their early stages with some pop punk influences on their debut and sophomore albums to the more pop rock sound of later albums. The band went through an evolution of the years, and after witnessing it in real time, having it condensed into one concert was magical. 

5 Seconds Of Summer not only played their big hits off of their albums, but also fan favorites. They played songs like “Vapor” and “Waste The Night” off Sounds Good Feels Good and “Babylon” and “If Walls Could Talk” off Youngblood. They even played part of “Don’t Stop,” the song the band famously likes to talk about how much they dislike it. They knew that would be a crowd favorite, and it was for sure. The music video featuring the boys as superheroes is iconic. Being one of the first singles from the group, it is a key part of the band’s history, whether they like it or not. 

They played their song “2011” which was released in 2021 in honor of their ten year anniversary of the band, really hitting home the fact that I have loved the band for over ten years. The song references going back to 2011, when things were simpler, before their lives got crazy and the band skyrocketed into stardom. 

The first song of the night to take me back in time was when they played “She’s Kinda Hot,” the lead single off of their second album Sounds Good Feels Good (OG fans will remember the spray painted wall livestream for the single announcement). I was immediately taken back to replaying that song again and again on summer vacation, and screaming “We are the kings and the queens of the new broken scene.” I was convinced I was going to get the New Broken Scene logo tattooed (I did not). It is also being released prior to them touring the United States, which meant I got to hear it live when I saw them in 2015. 

The first time of the night I got truly emotional was hearing “Amnesia” live. I was practically in tears, not only because the song itself is emotional, but because I could picture the music video as I heard the song. I was transported back to when the song came out and watching the music video in my bedroom. The scenes playing vividly in my head. This may have been the third time I had heard the song live, but it hit the hardest this time. It felt cathartic to scream along to the lyrics that immediately pulled from the depth of my mind at 23 years old. 

The last time of the night where all my emotions came out was when they played “Outer Space” as the first song of their encore. This song is off of their second album and has been a favorite of mine since it was released in 2015. A line from the song “nothing like the rain when you’re in outer space” was my laptop wallpaper for a good portion of high school. I have been waiting to hear it live and never thought the day would come. And when they came back on stage and the opening notes of the song began, I was in full disbelief. It felt like an out of body experience. My jaw dropped and was immediately consumed by the music and joy and shock. I sang my heart out and lived in the moment. The built up energy of eight years of singing the song in my car and in the shower, dreaming of hearing it live was released. It was an unforgettable moment that I will cherish forever. 

Of course, their newer songs like “Blender,” “Carousel” and “Me Myself and I” were fantastic moments as well. Over the months, they have taken up the space in my heart just as much as their other songs. They represent the growth of the band and how they have evolved to find their sound and grow as musicians. They are not the same band that I fell in love with on Youtube ten years ago. These songs will become classic songs to us in no time, and getting the chance to hear them live hit just as hard as the ones we have loved for years.

No 5 Seconds Of Summer concert would be complete without “She Looks So Perfect:” their very first single, the song that put the group on the radar for many people who are fans to this day. I can remember when the song and music video were released and the anticipation for what their debut single would sound like. Waiting to see how it would do on the charts and being so proud of them. I played the song nonstop and watched the videos over and over. Hearing the song on the radio for the first time was crazy. They were no longer the small band that felt like my own little secret. They were actually making it big and having their dreams become a reality. Now, I may have not gotten the iconic punk job at the end of the song like they did for years, but it was still fun to hear it live nine years after it was released. Everyone in the crowd screamed those words and took a trip back to 2014. It was like I was 14 again, in my bedroom listening to the song on my iPod. A full circle moment for sure. 

The moments when I think I really got the most emotional were “The Ghost Of You” and “Jet Black Heart.” The “Ghost Of You” live performance is beautiful. The sadness and heartbreak behind the lyrics is heard in the vocal performance and the instrumentals are beautiful. It was always a favorite song of mine and getting to hear it live and letting the music and lyrics consume me brought me to tears. The emotions overtook me and I just let it all out. 

“Jet Black Heart” from their second album always evokes a strong reaction from me. When the song was released, I immediately felt a strong connection to that song. Something about it drew me in and became possibly my all time favorite song by 5 Seconds Of Summer, and the live version of the track is a whole other experience. The song starts out acoustic, with guitarist Michael Clifford singing the opening verse with a solo and the crowd backing him. Then the rest of the band comes in and I am a full emotional mess. I think that was the loudest I screamed the whole show. I let everything go and let out all my built up emotion, frustration, and was taken back to being 16 and blasting the song. It hits just as hard, maybe even more all these years later. The bridge of the song had the crowd doing a call and response “ohhhh” and the whole crowd sang back in unison, creating a sea of beautiful, emotional voices.

 I feel like that moment is when reality really hit that I was watching a band that had been a staple in my life for so many years: Looking forward to the albums being released and waiting to see if the band was coming to tour near me, or even traveling five hours to see them in Hershey, Pennsylvania as a sixteenth birthday gift. Watching every music video, interview, buying books and merch, stalking their social media, and waiting for new pictures to be released. They’re a band that truly changed my life and a band that will not be leaving my life anytime soon. 

The 5SOS Show was a magical night that brought back memories from the last ten years. 5 Seconds Of Summer are amazing live. They are fantastic song writers, musicians, and put on a memorable show from start to finish. Whether it is a song from their first album or fifth album, I was singing along, dancing and, sometimes, crying. But with tears comes laughter and smiles and having the time of my life. Ten years later, and I am still as obsessed with this band at 23 as I was at 13. 

5 Seconds Of Summer are currently on The 5SOS Show world tour. Tickets can be found on their official website. 

Director Emma Seligman has delivered a fabulous new entry into the pantheon of raunchy teen comedies.

Co-writer/executive producer Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri star as lesbian high school seniors desperate to lose their virginities before graduation. A tale as old as time at this point, the focus on young queer women rather than young straight men isn’t the only twist of lemon in this soda: in an attempt to sleep with their dream girls, the two start a fight club under the guise of feminist self-defense and sisterhood.

Written by Seligman and Sennott, there is not a single inch of script wasted. Even small details, such as a primary character’s allergy or an offhand comment from a side character, come back in shocking and hilarious ways. There is also a surprising lack of certain cliches that could easily get tied up with this premise, such as “hit like a girl” or “you can’t hit girls.” The scenes where the girls scrap, whether another girl or an entire football team, prove they can take punches as well as they throw them with an often enjoyable brutality. The emphasis on size differential over gender is refreshing, to say the least.

In a scene where the fight club girls stop punching each other long enough to get to know each other, PJ bluntly asks who in the room had been raped. After elaborating “grey area stuff counts too,” every girl in the room raises her hand. In the same breath as Brittany bemoans her reputation as the pretty popular girl, she admits to being sexually violated numerous times. The former actually bothers her more than the latter, and the scene continues as if she said nothing before moving onto the next girl. This scene, despite PJ’s thoughtless lack of tact, acts as a somber reminder of how commonplace sexual abuse is for young women and girls. Moreover, it’s a subtle yet blunt expression of just how mundane it can be for some.

The entire cast is nothing short of inspired. Sennott absolutely shines as PJ, a quick-witted horn dog with a single-minded quest to get laid. She displays a comic, and occasionally jaw-dropping, lack of self awareness in a way unique to overconfident teenagers. In an interview with them magazine, Seligman expressed her desire for “shitty gay characters” and Sennott excels bringing that to life with humor and catharsis. At her side is Edebiri, whose performance of Josie is absolutely the twin star to Sennott’s. Where PJ is crass and occasionally cruel, Josie is timid and wants so badly to keep her head down until graduation. Unfortunately, brash and unapologetic-to-her-detriment PJ has other plans, putting her in an uncomfortable and complicit position. Despite her unwillingness to do so, she goes along with PJ’s scheme because, as crazy as it is, it very well may actually succeed in getting her with her dream girl.

Rising star Nicholas Galitzine, known for Purple Hearts (2022) and Red, White and Royal Blue (2023), is a frequent scene-stealer as Jeff. Damn near deified by the school, the quarterback delivers instant classic lines like, “Shut up, nerd, I fucked your mom,” with a perfect combination of dim-wittedness and the baseless arrogance that comes with being so heavily worshipped. Isabel and Brittany, played respectively by Havana Rose Liu and Kaia Gerber, are the pretty and popular love interests for the “ugly, untalented” leads. Gerber’s comedic timing and dry delivery are particularly noteworthy with lines like, “My identity relies entirely on [Isabel], so I go wherever she goes.” Liu’s brilliant comedy comes with how sweetly she speaks, even when telling Josie violence is one of her love languages. All considered, it’s Ruby Cruz’s performance is the glue that keeps the film together, much as her character Hazel does for the fight club. Quiet and a bit scrappy, she maintains the beating heart of the film. Whether she’s orchestrating The Bonnie Tyler bomb scene getting the shortest end of the stick after the inevitable reveal of the lie, Hazel maintains the beating heart of this film.

Bottoms is a hilarious, intelligent and unapologetically raunchy comedy that is as thought-provoking as it is absurd. PJ said it best: “Welcome to our fucking fight club.”

Bottoms is currently playing in theaters.

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