Nostalgia For A Time That Never Existed Tour: Luke Hemmings Lights Up Sold Out Night 2 in D.C.

Photos by: Abigail McNatt
Review by: Chris “Oberrated” Ober

On a night lit up in pastel pinks and dreamy blues, Luke Hemmings brought his Nostalgia For A Time That Never Existed Tour to the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. on Monday, May 27. With his new album boy barely being a month old, the troves of dedicated fans were in for a treat of new never-before-heard live music as well as many songs from his first album, When Facing the Things We Turn Away From.

First up to the stage though was New York based indie duo, Cafunè, made up of lead vocalist Sedona Schat and lead guitarist Noah Yoo. Do not be distracted by those simple roles though because these two are the wearers of many hats when it comes to their band. Between the two, they are writers, producers, and instrumentalists. With that much talent between the two pouring into their band, it was no surprise to see them take command of the stage and set a cool vibe and tempo that would set the pace for the rest of the night.

Watching Cafuné was a treat. As I mentioned, Sedona and Noah are a fire combination. On one end, you see Sedona establishing the vibe with her enchanting voice and rhythm guitar. Then on the other end, Noah is completely lost in the music, practically becoming one with his guitar as he jams out to the sounds he’s creating. The energy from him is outright infectious. However, with all this said, I had one major question once Cafunè’s set was all said and done; How on Earth did your glasses stay on your face, Noah? 🤯

The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as the main event approached. Luke Hemmings – singer, songwriter, model, lead singer and guitarist of the illustrious 5 Seconds of Summer, the man himself took center stage. Accompanied by the opening track “A Beautiful Dream,” he emerged amidst a backdrop of cinematic lights, his figure silhouetted against the vibrant glow.

Speaking of vibes, this intro truly set the stage for Luke’s whole aesthetic. A beautiful serenade of yearning, desiring, and longing lyrics focused on perspective of what was, what could have been, and a curiosity of what’s to come. As he set up the audience for an intimate night, despite feeling a bit under the weather for a sold out night two in Washington D.C., Luke was now preparing to perform nearly his entire two album discography of his most personal music to date. With a sea of blue and pink apparel, lights, and glitter in front of him, the night started off with a bang (and confetti!) He continued the opening of the show with showstopper hits like “Motion” and “Close My Eyes,” before bringing in the euphoric sounds of “Saigon.”

I personally avoid using a word like “perfect,” but when it comes to Luke Hemmings’ music, vocals, lighting/color choice, and stage work, the man knows what he is doing. This kind of attention to detail and talent draws in dedicated fans and that was apparent by the turnout for this show and the energy being thrown back to Luke. With every song played, the crowd hit every single note and word which protected the ailing Luke from having to sing too hard. The audience did the work for him while dancing the night away simultaneously. He may have been “hopped up on DayQuil,” but he certainly didn’t sound like it. He put his all into the performance and it really makes you wonder how artists do this each and every night — especially when you’re not feeling well.

All good things must come to an end. This night was no different, as this beautiful night came closer to an end for the at capacity 9:30 Club. He ended the night in perfect 1-2 punch fashion with his no. 1 tracks off of his boy and When Facing the Things We Turn Away From albums, “I’m Still Your Boy,” and “Starting Line.” Just as these songs beg and plead of desires and reflections, the crowd certainly felt the same as their desire for this night with their favorite Aussie to never end became a unified feeling, and their reflection on this rainy May night will forever bring them happiness.