Live Review: Five – 31st October 2015 – Brighton Centre, Brighton, UK

The Brighton Centre was alive with nostalgia this Halloween as Five’s original line-up, Sean Conlon, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson, J Brown, and Abz Love, reunited for a powerhouse set that reminded fans why the group became one of Britain’s defining late-90s pop acts. Mixing swagger, harmonies, and boundless energy, the quintet delivered a show that was both a trip down memory lane and proof they’ve still got serious performance chops.

The band had not been on stage together as the original five since the 2000 Invincible tour. Despite racking up countless pop hits and selling over 20 million records, the group parted ways soon after that tour and album release. While different iterations of Five reunited in 2007 and again from 2017, with or without Abz, J was adamant that a full reunion was never on the cards. His reclusiveness added to the surprise when the lads announced their return last year. The build-up to the shows has been an intense build up for fans, starting with the opening show in Cardiff, followed by Brighton, and then heading to arenas around the country including Bournemouth, Manchester, Liverpool, and three sold-out dates at London’s O2 Arena.

Arriving at the Brighton Centre, the atmosphere was electric. Fans in Halloween costumes mingled with those proudly sporting official Five merchandise, ready to let their hair down on a gusty Friday night by the seaside. As a man in my mid-forties who first experienced Five during my teenage years, I was struck by the wide range of ages in the crowd. Even more surprising was the number of younger fans who weren’t even born when Five first stormed the charts, proof that their music continues to resonate across generations.

Launching straight into their first single, Slam Dunk (Da Funk), the band wasted no time igniting the crowd. Shake and Got the Feelin’ followed, the five moving with effortless synchronicity and replaying those famous dance moves that I, and surely many others, used to perform in our living rooms. There was a surreal, joyous sense of being both a fan and a participant at once.

The setlist also delighted longtime fans with deep cuts from their debut album. Until the Time Is Through and It’s the Things You Do offered the set’s two finest ballads, and I was thrilled to hear these gems live for the first time in years. Partyline 555‐On‐Line, the highlight for Abz, saw the band move like a bouncing train along the circular walkway, delivering one of the night’s punchiest hits, perfect for a Friday party night. Closer to Me carried a particularly poignant backstory. J admitted that after leaving the band 25 years ago, he found it difficult to listen to their records, but he had always loved this song and was now able to hear it with happiness attached.

Visually, the show impressed as much as the music. The circular walkway allowed the band to perform hits while shaking hands and connecting with die-hard fans. The intimacy it created within the high-energy spectacle made the evening feel both grand and personal. Several members of the band’s families were also in attendance, cheering from the wings, adding warmth to the event.

One particularly touching moment came when the group gave a heartfelt shout-out to fans they recognized from shows decades ago, thanking them for sticking by them. They also acknowledged a young girl at the front proudly holding a sign that it was her first-ever concert. These gestures captured the intergenerational spirit of the night, uniting original fans like myself with a new generation discovering Five for the first time.

Vocally, the group was strong across the board. Sean’s velvety tone and Ritchie’s harmonies anchored many of the performance, yet it was J who truly stole the night, confident, charismatic, and delivering the tightest vocals and rap lines. His iconic black bowler hat during Everybody Get Up sent the crowd into raptures, a reminder of how integral he has always been to the Five machine. A surprising twist given that he has been absent form performing for the best part of quarter of a century.

The evening also had poignant moments. Ahead of Got the Feelin’, Sean reflected on the lead-up to the tour: “We were nervous when we first put it on. Full of confidence now, though.” Later, J admitted he had truly believed this reunion would never happen. Hearing those words live made the night feel not just celebratory, but historically significant, a pop moment years in the making.

The setlist balanced party-starters with soulful numbers. Straight Up Funk showcased their early R&B influences, Lay All Your Lovin’ on Me offered a mid-set slowdown, and Human provided one of the night’s gentlest, Sean-led moments and allowed the otherwise nonchalant performer to shine. Fan favourites When the Lights Go Out and Invincible drew the loudest reactions, while If Ya Gettin’ Down and We Will Rock You pushed the energy to full throttle. The former, in particular, was met with frenzied enthusiasm, complete with video-inspired bursts of flames along the front of the stage. Surprisingly, Let’s Dance, near the end of the set, became a late-show highlight, injected with fresh energy and precision that left the crowd fully engaged.

The main set closed with Everybody Get Up, a communal sing-along, before the encore, a euphoric medley of Jump Around, Place Your Hands, and Get Lucky, turned the venue into a full-blown Halloween dance party. Keep On Movin’ provided an emotional, celebratory finale.

What stood out most was how naturally Five slipped back into their groove. Laughter, jokes, tight choreography, crisp production, and impeccably blended vocals reminded everyone that beneath the boyband label, Five were always a group with talent, personality, and genuine camaraderie. More than 25 years on, their return isn’t just nostalgia, it’s a reaffirmation. Pop delivered with heart, energy, and brotherly bond never truly fades, and seeing it live reminded me why I fell for these lads all those years ago.