Ashton Irwin Makes Electrifying Solo Debut at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles

Ashton marks the new era in his solo career with a one-night-only show at the Belasco Theatre, Los Angeles.

Less than 48 hours after the release of his second solo record Blood on the Drums, Ashton Irwin, best known as the drummer of Australian pop-rock sensation 5 Seconds of Summer, took to the stage at the mod-gothic Belasco Theater in Downtown Los Angeles to perform his first ever solo performance on 18 July.

From Irwin’s powerful and passionate stage presence to the dedicated fans dressed in BLOOD ON THE DRUMS-inspired red roses and black lace, from signed show posters at the merch stand to the roses thrown onstage with attached notes of appreciation from fans, the Belasco was filled with tangible gratitude from Ashton and fans alike. A one-night-only performance from Ashton has been a long time coming– and he made every second of waiting worth it.

From the moment the lights dimmed, Ashton had the room under his raw and rebellious spell, soaring through a revved-up rendition of Straight to Your Heart to open the show, before blazing through high-powered performances of most of his sophomore project. His intense magnetism with the fans was only broken in the moments when he ascended to another musical dimension as he stepped behind the drums, adorned with a bold yet understated “Ai” logo on their kick drum. Beams of pulsing red light spattered the Belasco as Ashton pounded the kit through Breakup, and BLOOD ON THE DRUMS. Rocking smudgy black eyeliner and shedding his leather suitcoat to reveal a black fringe vest, Ashton embraced his new role as a solo frontman with the vigour and capability of a seasoned professional.

The balcony view during I See The Angels and Lose You was the best place to see the palpable connection between Ashton and the crowd below. He simultaneously engaged with fans and belted out vocal lines with the precision of his studio recordings, further flexing his wings as a vibrant multi-talented performer. While most of the setlist focused on the tracks from BLOOD ON THE DRUMS, the earliest of solo-Ashton fans were satisfied with performances of a handful of tracks from his 2020 debut Superbloom, including electrifying Greyhound, and nostalgia-inducing, Drive, which even had Ashton’s bandmate Calum Hood visibly bopping in the upper stage balcony.

From the moment he picked up an acoustic guitar to close out The Canyon, Ashton was entrancing in a simpler, unguarded way. He effortlessly created a shining moment on an unforgettable night as he stood under a single violet-hued spotlight, guiding the audience through an emotional, stripped-back duet to California Holds Her Breath. Even when the rest of the night’s memories have dimmed, the simple power of the connection felt at that moment is something I’ll still be able to feel.

Watching on as golden light filled the stage and he poured everything into closing out the show with reminiscent Glory Days and triumphant, Have U Found What Ur Looking For?, it’s this feeling that is the magic that Ashton Irwin created in the Belasco. It became a place where every person, Ashton included, felt united by an existentialistic love for music and the people and memories it’s brought us. Maybe we should do it again some time, Ashton?