Juliana Riverin
Staff Writer
When it comes to popular music, One Direction is a name one can’t avoid. One Direction played a sold out concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, September 13th. They were accompanied by new artist Jamie Scott and the pop-punk band 5 Seconds of Summer.
The concert was lively and enjoyable in large part due to the bands’ capability to make the audience participate along with the way they interacted with each other and showcased their group dynamic.
As far as first openers go, Jamie Scott was a solid choice. He managed to create an diverting atmosphere with his songs despite a short set and little showmanship. His music relied on catchy melodies and sweet, engaging lyrics and provided a pleasant start to the concert.
5 Seconds of Summer was spectacular as the second opener. They impressed with a lively, spontaneous set and let their personalities show throughout their performance by making jokes and occasionally changing song lyrics to fit the occasion, such as singing “I love Niall Horan” instead of “That’s where you’ll find me” during their song “Good Girls.”
Five Seconds of Summer did more than just warm up the audience for One Direction. The pop-punk group, that is reminiscent of Green Day and Simple Plan at the height of their careers, brought some edginess to a concert that otherwise would have had no musical contrast whatsoever and therefore enhanced the overall concert experience.
Despite an amazing show by 5 Seconds of Summer, One Direction left no doubt as to who was the main event. However the audience’s enthusiasm appeared to have little effect on the band’s performance as illustrated by the fact that One Direction member Zayn Malik seemed uninterested and bored for the first half of the concert, which made the beginning of the performance a bit strange and awkward.
That said, One Direction did put on an impressive show. Although their songs weren’t deeply emotional, they were catchy and energetic. Furthermore, they garnered immense fan participation in the form of sing alongs and various kinds of hysterical screaming, which increased the excitement and liveliness of the concert, making it a memorable experience for all who attended.
Another factor was that September 13th is One Direction member Niall Horan’s twenty first birthday. Fans of all ages brought signs or Irish flags, or dressed in orange, white and green. This, combined with the memories band members shared of Horan made the concert unique and memorable.
Overall, the combined efforts of Jamie Scott, 5 Seconds of Summer and One Direction created a fun, memorable experience to the surprise of many.
The groups will continue touring together until October 2014, Tickets can be bought online for the rest of the “Where We Are” tour.
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