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Concert Review: McBusted at the London O2 Arena

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at American chapter.

Earlier this week, McBusted’s Most Excellent Adventure Tour saw its second show at the O2 Arena in London, one of the world’s most coveted and notable venues. If you remember the Jonas Brothers’ “Year 3000” and “What I Go To School For,” you’ve already heard two Busted songs–edited for raunchiness, of course. And if you remember Lindsay Lohan and Chris Pine’s movie Just My Luck, then you’ve already been introduced to McFly. While both bands dominated the UK charts in the early 2000s, they decided to come together to form one super-group, McBusted. Basically, they’re just one giant #TBT and it’s amazing. 

 

The saying “the bigger, the better” is the best way to McBusted’s stage. Playing on the world’s largest arcade machine, the six-piece band was dwarfed by life-sized joysticks and A, B, and C buttons. Playing in a massive venue with their massive stage set the show up to be insanely fun. 

 

McBusted playing on the world’s largest arcade machine

 

The band had two opening acts: Symmetry and New City Kings. Symmetry is a band that hails from Los Angeles, CA, and the band will be headlining a tour in the UK later this month. Their pop-rock vibes will make you want to stand up and dance, and they do a great cover of Katy Perry’s “Roar.” Born and raised in the UK, New City Kings is a mixture of Kings of Leon and Foo Fighters. Their arena-rock style is fun and will easily get stuck in your head! 

 

 

McBusted’s 19-song-set seemed never-ending, yet the moment it finished, the audience was left wanting more. Opening up with more recent songs, “Air Guitar” and “I Hate Your Guts,” it was obvious that the band gave it their all. The guys were extremely energetic and constantly goofed around. Playing off their nostalgic tour theme of 80’s games and movies, the band also covered old Busted and McFly favorites. 

 

 

The highlight of the night, however, was when the guys migrated over to B Stage in a replica of the “Back to the Future” car. While the car came down from the rigging above the stage, the band relocated by hiding in boxes, giggling as they passed by unsuspecting fans, and came up from undeneath. Moving back to the main stage to play “Crashed The Wedding,” the guys dressed up, walked down the aisle and tied the knot. 

 

Finishing with fan favorites like “5 Colours” and “Year 3000,” confetti exploded and the crowd cheered long after the band left the stage. The Most Excellent Adventure Tour showed that McBusted is a group of lovable goofballs but that they’re also extremely talented musicians. From start to finish, they were energetic and goofy; their concert was larger than life and their career is going nowhere but up.

 

Image credits: 1, 2, 3

All other images belong to the author

Gabriella Salazar is a junior at American University studying Public Communication and Marketing. She hails from sunny, sunny Los Angeles, California and her proudest moment is meeting Ryan Gosling at the Gangster Squad Premier in January 2013. She's a lover of ballet, wheat thins, food, music and cats; a hater of all things dumb and annoying--like traffic.
Born and raised in Princeton, New Jersey, Claire Shriver is a Public Communication major and Marketing minor at American University in Washington, DC. She is the Editor-in-Chief for Her Campus American, Vice President of Communication for AU Social Media Club and an AU Ambassador. This past summer she interned in the Features Department at Marie Claire magazine and has a passion for travel, magazines, and film photography. Kristen Wiig makes Claire cry with laughter and Adele makes her swoon.