Live Review: Five out of Five in Perth Australia
13 May at HPC Mount Claremont Perth Western Australia
Review by Sheldon Ang
photography by Sheldon Ang Photography
The lights plunged the fans into the twilight zone, followed by backstage beams shining at full power, carving five silhouettes in imperious stances. The scenery was angelically dreamy, thanks to the transparent satin curtain that separated old school fantasy from reality. The screams were manical, while Abz, Scott, Sean, Ritchie and Jason stood in silence for half a minute before marching in synch like the boy band of the 90s and 00s to the front of the stage. The music reverberated, sparking the five to spin and kick through those boyish choreography for the Gen X crowd of mainly females in their 30s and roaring 40s. It was an intro full of spunk and attitude, swimming in swagger by these ’70s-born men, transporting us back to the ’90s. The rap-style verses cut through the room, and the chorus was huge and chant-like that fit perfectly to the lyrics and style of the music. Everyone was involved in one way or another.
Beaming high in neon-like signage across two digital pillars was the stylised word – Five, repeated top to bottom
And just like that, we were back in the time of our university and clubbing days. But it didn’t take long before the young and the restless on the floor turned into backup dancers of their own.
It was a Slam-Dunk (Da Funk) of a start, because this was 1997’s debut single, the track that first stamped the band’s pop-rap identity. It was edgy, funky and packed with infectious hooks. It was built for crowd participation, and the crowd gave it exactly that.
“For the first time in 25 years, one of the UK’s most successful bands reunites with all five members.”
Those were the promoter’s words, and they were enough to send Gen X, Gen Y and even a few Gen Z fans into a frenzy; the five members are finally back for a world tour that kicked off in 2025 and returned to Perth Western Australia in 2026 for a second run.
With boy bands finding their way back into the spotlight lately, the timing feels right for one of the biggest of them all to return, now as men in their late 40s.
Time, of course, has kept moving. It was back in 1997 that Five was formed, and since then they have sold more than 20 million records worldwide, with almost one million of those in Australia alone. No wonder Australia sealed the deal for chapter 2 of the world tour. We got this Perth.
For this photojournalist, it was a chance to rekindle the kaleidoscopic memories of university life, those six-night-a-week on the club circuit, 5am return for Rage on TV, and a world where technology was just beginning to explode without yet taking over our lives. Tonight, around 4,000 fans were wrapped up in those same memories.
And the hits kept coming, including the ones many in the crowd knew by heart, even if they didn’t realise they were recorded by Five. There was plenty more kicking and swinging on stage during Got The Feelin, and it seemed the stylised Five glowing behind them only got brighter as the night rolled on.
What has always set this boy band apart is its rap. Jason and Abz Love were pop rappers as much as melodic singers, taking turns delivering the pulse of Five’s sound. They stood out time and again, because after all, they were the engine of the band’s rap and verse counter punch identity, and both carried that role with ease.
And just like the great boy bands of the ’80s and ’90s, every member has a distinctive appeal. Jason is built, looking more like a straight faced nightclub bouncer in Westminster than a pop star. Abz, with his face and head tattoos, has a look that could easily cast him as the lead in some gangland thriller. Thankfully, appearances were deceiving tonight, as they also eased into ballads like Invincible and the Human League cover Human under semi-darkness while phone lights shimmered across the venue. It got sappier during Closer to Me. The shift from fast-paced pop to ballad was a beautiful contrast, one that the crowd clearly appreciated the eclectic malleability of the band, as it showcased the group’s versatility. Alongside the boyish looks of Ritchie, the forever head-shaven Sean, and Scott, now a father of four, they all briefly belonged to a gentler, more soulful world in within, although the energy propagation remained on stage.
It didn’t take long for them to lift the pace again with Partyline 555 On-Line, with Jason and Abz once more taking the lead on the rap, before launching into the biggest hit of the night so far, If Ya Gettin’ Down. By then, everyone was on their feet and dancing with hands in the air. The pop-rap energy was infectious, with Abz delivering smooth, rhythmic lines with effortless swagger while Jason added grit and punch. Thanks to a performance like that, HPC was the biggest nightclub in the Southern Hemisphere for those 2 hours.
When Five briefly went backstage, it was the moment we realised there had been a full live band behind them all along; after all, our attention had been fixed on the five in front. The four musicians – drummer, guitarist, bassist and keyboardist stepped into focus with a rock workout full of scintillating guitar riffs and a booming rhythm section, the perfect prelude to the next number, Queen’sWe Will Rock You. It was never about competing with Freddie Mercury, but it absolutely got the whole venue chanting along by a song that was created with that recipe.
There were more covers, including a medley of Jump Around, Place Your Hands and Get Lucky, before the night closed with their biggest hit of all, Keep On Movin’…a nostalgia fused 30 years in the making, a showcase of everyone’s vocal and emotion in a seminal piece.
It was the perfect culmination, on a journey that was built on pop rap and cheesy lyrics, ultimately feeding an addiction for a generation.
On the live front, Five soar to another level.
Five will also be performing in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland this month. Tickets are available from TEG Dainty
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Dianna O’Neill Publicity, TEG Dainty and Five for the media accreditation
Perth Five Setlist
Slam Dunk (Da Funk) — Five (1997)
Shake — Invincible (1999)
Got the Feelin’ — Five (1997)
Straight Up Funk — Five (1997)
It’s the Things You Do — Five (1997)
Lay All Your Lovin’ on Me — Five (1997)
When the Lights Go Out — Five (1997)
Invincible — Invincible (1999)
Human — Kingsize (2001)
Partyline 555‑On‑Line — Five (1997)
If Ya Gettin’ Down — Invincible (1999)
We Will Rock You — Invincible (1999) (Five feat. Queen)
Rock the Party — Kingsize (2001)
Closer to Me — Kingsize (2001)
Serious — Kingsize (2001)
Until the Time Is Through — Five (1997)
Let’s Dance — Kingsize (2001)
Everybody Get Up — Five (1997)
Medley (incl. Get Lucky) — Live medley / cover
Keep On Movin’ — Five (1999)
About the writer/photographer: The founder of Perth-based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) has been accredited to more than 250 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), Coldplay (Perth), AD/DC, Metallica, KISS, RHCP, P!NK and Suzi Quatro (pictured) with reviews shared by the likes of Belinda Carlisle, Roxette, Tina Arena, UB40, Delta Goodrem, and Tina Arena on social media. He has interviewed the late Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) plus over 100 artists. He’s also a contributor on Triple M Radio as a music journalist
