How We Got 5SOS’d on a Wednesday Afternoon

I drove by all the places we used to hang out getting wasted, I thought about our last kiss, how it felt the way you tasted, and even though your friends tell me you're doing fine.

Are you somewhere feeling lonely even though he's right beside you? When he says those words that hurt you, do you read the ones I wrote you?

These are lyrics from my daughter’s favorite song, “Amnesia” by 5 Seconds of Summer or more commonly referred to as 5SOS. When she first showed me this song’s music video, part of me cringed. She’s at that magical age when hormones first start to rage and the thought of her being that close to a boy or drinking makes me; well I’ll keep it to myself.

I get why she’s loves them. Who wouldn’t want one of those 4 band boys writing a song about them? No matter how I old I get, I can be instantly transported back 30 years when I had a crush on a band roadie who took me to see Bon Jovi before he was famous, at Grand Circus Park in Detroit.  And as much as I don’t want to think about her in those situations, she too didn’t want to hear about my youth before her Dad!

Amanda found out 5SOS was coming to the area and asked me if I would buy tickets. I didn’t know who they were and figured the concert would be reasonably priced. I couldn’t believe that their tickets were fetching the same price as Taylor Swift. I told her the only way she was going was if she won them. 

Challenge on. She dialed in to the radio station using 3 phones and hit caller 25. I heard her scream barely making out her words, "3^rd row tickets, with a sound check and meet and greet." She asked me if she could go with a girlfriend, but I said no way. They were playing at The Palace which is a 10,000-seat arena. 

I took the day off of work to serve as mom, girlfriend and photographer. I thought about my mom and wondered why we never did anything like this, but rock concerts weren’t a part of her youth like they were during mine.

We sat in the first row for their sound check and Q and A session. After they played one song, the four boys sat at the end of the runway connected to the stage with microphones. They answered thoughtful questions from 10 of the 1,400 concert goers that were invited to this special preview. We were not allowed to take photos or even have our phones out. I was feeling a little guilty because there were hundreds of girls outside who would have died to see them up close. But, I realized it was meant to be, so I would better understand all of my daughter’s hype and not so secret crushes.  BTW, she didn’t act crazy like some of the girls and just smiled, being too shy to ask them a question.

The guys surprised me and made me laugh out loud! They were smart, witty and between their handsome good looks and New Zealand accents, definitely were swoon-worthy.  

I started thinking about the singers of my time who I never met or ever really heard talking and bantering like regular people. Instead, they remained on that “star” level during the era before MTV and YouTube. I'm sure I would have been stalking Elton John on Instagram or Snapchat! And, in case you're wondering whether social media takes away any of the magic or mystery of these modern day boy bands I would say no; there were quite a few girls crying when 5SOS took the stage!

Just after they finished up their sound check, we waited outside a small room manned by very large bodyguards. Each set of two concert goers with purple wrist bands were escorted in for one photo with the band. I stood between Ashton and Michael. I know..right??? Amanda stood between Calum and Ashton. I’m sure they felt like they were posing with their mom and a girl way too young for them, but we had big smiles and I said something stupid like, “You’re so cute!”

We left the photo room giggling like girlfriends along with my "5 Seconds" of being the cool mom! 

Here's to the concerts that shaped our youth and the music that provided the soundtrack.

*written in May 2016