Photo: Chris MacDonald
“It’s insane to think that only a year ago we were playing at the Barfly”, recaps lead vocalist Matthew Healy as The 1975 take to the stage at London's Brixton Academy. And it’s true, with a No.1 album under their belt and receiving critical acclaim from the US, 2013 was undoubtedly the year that made The 1975.
Ellie Goulding and other quirky celebrities can be found in the VIP bar backstage, underlining the cool kind of customer that this band attracts. In fact, it’s kind of what The 1975 are all about, making guitar music cool and youthful once more, with their pop and r&b influences.
It’s also refreshing for a band to have earned their fanbase the old fashioned way. Which is by (shock horror) something other than just using clever marketing tactics, but by constantly touring and plugging away at the gig circuit. Proving their worth as more than just an overnight success.
Opening the set with ‘The City’ the thick stage fog and bright lights create a gripping foundation for an absorbing atmosphere. The crowds scream enthusiastically as Healy holds out both arms in triumph, as he marvels at his adoring fans. ‘Milk’ and ‘M.O.N.E.Y’ manage to highlight the bands skill for incorporating a strong synthetic electro sound into guitar lead indie tracks. It’s a promising start from the Manchester hailing boys, however the high expectations of a band promising so much more leave us feeling a little underwhelmed from here on out.
When you see crowds playing with their phones, looking around for a distraction and even yawning, you know it’s game over. By the third track, the show is moving in a gradually downward spiral, where the slower tracks in the setlist are seemingly unwelcomed by the shuffling movements of the audience.
The mesmeric melodies of the saxophonist manage to lift the mood slightly, in one of their album standouts ‘Heart Out’. There’s always something nostalgic about a good old saxophone solo and it manages to leverage The 1975 above other bands who wouldn’t dare to try anything so potentially risky in a live environment. The set is padded out with tracks, which unlike the album versions, fail to inspire and fall miserably flat. It’s disappointingly mediocre for a band that has been promised to give us so much more.
The hits come, unsurprisingly, towards the end of the set. ‘Chocolate’ and ‘Sex’ are undeniably fantastic hits, featuring awe-inspiring guitar patterns that have lead the way for up and coming guitar bands everywhere.
We knew the hits would come and when they did, they were marvelous. It’s just a shame that they bored us to death with some of the slow burning fillers along the way.
Below: exclusive photos from The 1975's Brixton Academy gig
