Nostalgia For a Time That Never Existed, a Tour By Luke Hemmings in Washington DC
Written by: Mikaila Storrs
After a long red-eye flight from San Diego to Washington, D.C., and very little sleep, I found myself in the intimate setting of the iconic 9:30 Club. As the lights dimmed and the intro music to "A Beautiful Dream" began to play, the anticipation for Luke Hemmings' first solo tour truly kicked in. As a long-time fan of 5 Seconds of Summer and a massive fan of Luke Hemmings' solo work, I was beyond excited for this show.
Despite the venue's small capacity of just 1,200, I have to say I don't think I've ever heard louder fans. From the moment Luke Hemmings stepped onto the stage to the moment he left, everyone sang and screamed their hearts out. He noticed this too, saying, "I didn't know this would be the best show of the tour, and didn’t think D.C. would be so loud.”
In an intimate moment with the fans, Luke explained that he wrote these songs not thinking anyone would ever listen to them. He shared that they are very personal songs, so seeing so many people resonate with them in their own way was overwhelming for him, and he expressed his deep gratitude.
A standout song for me was “Place In Me,” my all-time favorite of his. I’m not ashamed to admit that I spent the entire song with glitter tears from my eyeshadow streaming down my face. I spent most of the night in awe, choosing to refrain from recording many moments so I could fully live in the experience. It was the best decision I could have made.
A fan favorite from the night was clearly “Shakes,” off of his most recent EP "boy." The room was practically shaking with how loud everyone sang this one; it was electrifying to be a part of.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved hearing “Garden Life” live. While it’s not my most listened-to track on the EP, the live performance was vastly different from listening through headphones or in my car. The song truly comes to life, and Luke puts his all into it, explaining that it’s his favorite song he’s ever written.
The evening concluded with him performing “Starting Line,” which is incredibly fun live, especially when he sets off a massive confetti cannon in sync with the lyrics “take me alive, make me a liar,” amidst the ecstatic screams of the crowd.
The night was truly magical. If you have the opportunity to see this show live, I highly recommend it. Watching Luke’s confidence as a solo artist grow is an experience not to be missed.