5 Seconds of Summer remains hot boy band of today

All the big acts are coming to town. Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran and Katy Perry have scheduled shows. As far as boy groups are concerned, we have had The Vamps. Also 1975. One Direction is coming. Even the Backstreet Boys will be back for the, I do not know anymore because I have lost count, nth time. So now their many fans are asking: When are we getting 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS)? Next only to 1D, these guys from Australia are the hottest boy band of the day and they are indeed on a major roll.

5 Seconds of Summer is made up of Luke Hemmings on vocals and guitars; Michael Clifford, guitar and vocals; Calum Hood, bass guitar and vocals; and Ashton Irwin, drums. They make punk/pop music. These boys write, perform and produce their own materials. They were high school kids from working class families who got together only four years ago. A scant two years later, they had an album out and a fanatical following of screaming girls. Then One Direction booked them as curtain raisers on 1D’s world tour. And that was it. 5SOS became very, very big.

The group’s self-titled first album became the biggest debut ever by an Australian band and also the biggest new artist debut of 2014. They also made No. 1 globally on iTunes in 76 countries. Tickets to their Rock Out With Your Socks Out summer 2015 North American headlining tour were already sold out as early as a year ago. And I will not be surprised if more dates would be announced soon because if you think 5 Seconds of Summer is great to listen to, you will surely be amazed by how they sound live.

A preview of what a 5 Seconds of Summer show is like is available in LIVE 5SOS. Recorded from various performances in Australia, Europe and the U.S. of A., the album has the band doing its songs and some covers like Green Day’s American Idiot and Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream. The great thing about is the 5SOS guys are really good musicians and are even better when live.  And to think that these boys are so young and have no formal training in music at all. There is such a youthful, energetic vibe throughout the set that even people who shy away from punk rock will find this album enjoyable.

 The songs like She Looks So Perfect, Everything I Didn’t Say, 18 and others from the hit 5 Seconds Of Summer album are all here.  But the fans of 5SOS will also love the fact the this live album includes songs from the group’s first extended play release.  These, like Disconnected, Heartache On The Big Screen and the Good Charlotte-penned Amnesia were unfortunately not included in the full-length CD. But it’s here now in all its punk glory, the band’s first hits and it is just amazing to hear the group live. Of course, many will miss the hit Don’t Stop which is real, exciting punk with its fantastic hook, but the entire album has lots more to offer.

Also included are 18, Out Of My Limit, Beside You, Everything I Didn’t Say, Long Way Home, Good Girls, What I Like About You and End Up Here, plus a secret cut that you will only find out if you listen to the entire album. 

Now when do you think will Pinoys get the chance to watch 5 Seconds of Summer live? 

Throwback time              

Throwback time for a little bit of punk music history. Hey Ho Let’s Go The Ramones Greatest Hits. The Ramones were Joey Ramone on vocals; Johnny Ramone, guitar; Dee Dee Ramone, bass; and Tommy Ramone, drums. Interestingly enough, none of them were born surnamed Ramone. They made up the name when they formed the band and later additions like C.J., Marcky, Richie and others all followed suit and changed their names to Ramone.  The Ramones were the first-ever punk rock band in pop music history. 

The Ramones hold the record of being a band that lasted 20 years, 1975 to 1995, during which they consistently toured and recorded albums, but who never had a single hit song or a single hit album. But they were inducted into the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame and were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys for their contributions to the development of rock music. Here in a well-curated collection is the very intense kind of rock ’n roll that marked the beginnings of punk rock.

Check out these titles: Blitzkrieg Bop, Beat On The Brat, Judy Is A Punk, I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend, Sheena Is A Punk Rocker, Pinhead, Commando, Rockaway Beach, We’re A Happy Family, Cretic Hop, Teenage Lobotomy, I Wanna Be Sedated, I Just Want To Have Something To Do, Rock ‘N’ Roll High School, Baby I Love You, Do You Remember Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio? The KKK Took My Baby Away, Outsider, Pet Sematary and Wart Hog.