On Halloween night, as the sweetness of chocolate filled the minds of eager trick-or-treaters, Atlanta became the destination for 5 Seconds of Summer fans from all around the world to gather for the once-a-year event called DerpCon. The members of 5 Seconds of Summer organize this convention every year to honor their fans who have supported them throughout their long journey to stardom. This year’s theme for DerpCon was “The New Broken Scene” to acknowledge how 5 Seconds of Summer’s new album, “Sounds Good Feels Good” deals with the problems of teenagers around the world in hopes of helping them overcome their troubles. This year, DerpCon consisted of a full day filled with meet and greets and a free concert at the Tabernacle in Atlanta.
When asked by Q100 on stage at the concert why the band selected Atlanta as the city for the fan event, Luke Hemmings replied, “Atlanta rocks the hardest!”
DerpCon was a private event and the only way for the approximately 100 fans in attendance to get tickets was to win contests that were sponsored by Q100. For months, fans were calling into the station hoping to be the 100th caller to get the free tickets into the concert. Wanting to get as many dedicated fans into the event as possible, Q100 held other contests as well. Jasmine Sears, a 16-year-old fan from Atlanta said, “ Last night there was a football game at Sprayberry High School and my dad actually won [passes] for me by throwing a sack into a hole.”
At 7:00 a.m. Saturday, fans were already lining up outside of the Tabernacle downtown wanting to be in the front for the 5:00 p.m. concert. Cindy Garcia, a 14-year-old teen from Atlanta, was with her best friend, Lorelei Moore, a 15-year-old Atlantan, standing in the long admission line in front of the Tabernacle. “Everything about DerpCon is such a great opportunity,” Garcia said. “ I am excited about everything about it.” Moore added: “Michael [Clifford] is my favorite member of 5 Seconds of Summer because both of us have bleached our hair the same number of times and it will fall out at the same time.” Said Garcia: “We became best friends because of Michael Clifford and 5 Seconds of Summer.”
After a long wait in the windy and chilly October air, the doors of the Tabernacle opened and excited fans came running in. A long staircase led up to a big “The New Broken Scene” sign where fans stopped and took many pictures. Inside the concert venue, fans were stumbling into each other, rushing to be the closest to the stage so the band would notice the handmade fan shirts they had sewn just for this event. A half hour of waiting followed as fans eagerly awaited for their idols to walk on stage.
As the clock display on iPhones changed to 5:00 p.m., the room went silent. The lights went out and the stage was lit up with one spotlight following drummer Ashton Irwin onto the stage. Fans screamed as Irwin started to play his drum solo. Suddenly, Michael Clifford, Luke Hemmings, and Calum Hood ran out of a side entrance and started playing along with Irwin. All Snapchat videos, cameras, and selfie sticks went up as the band grabbed their instruments.
The crowd roared as the band started playing “End up Here” from their 2014 debut album. The concert consisted of mostly old songs that the band was saying goodbye to because of their release of the new album and their upcoming tour. After many upbeat songs which made fans scream, dance and cry, the band brought out their acoustic guitars and started to play “Amnesia.” The lights in the Tabernacle dimmed as fans turned on their flashlights on their phones. The room was filled with little lights dancing back and forth to the rhythm of the strums of the guitars. The band closed the concert with “What I Like About You,” acknowledging how they appreciate their fans and how they love each and every one of them.
Not only was the concert performed live at the Tabernacle for the fans who won the contest, but the concert was live streamed, so fans all around the world were tuned in and watching. According to Michael Clifford, with the live stream audience factored in, this was the biggest concert 5 Seconds of Summer has ever played. All around the world, fans watched their favorite band perform and for the first time, the 5 Seconds of Summer fandom felt united as one on this very special night.
