“Rock n’ roll is dead” is emblazoned across the screens for a moment in London’s O2 arena, a declaration that the 1975 have aligned with since 2015. But to the 20,000 strong crowd, this band are rock 'n' roll. Tonight, they showcase where rock is in 2020: it’s glitchy, it’s infused with pop, it’s horn solos, it's turning mental health issues into huge singalong choruses. It has back-up dancers, it both embraces and rejects technology, it’s effeminate, it’s political. But, most importantly, it still entertains and unifies its audience.

Despite the contemporary outlook of the 1975, they certainly aren’t afraid to reference the lineage of rock before them. 'Love Me' has always drawn comparisons to INXS frontman Michael Hutchence and 'Let’s Dance' era Bowie, the loose-limbed dance moves of Matty Healy easily brings Mick Jagger to mind and the overarching political theme of the show feels very Bono. But as the screams of “Wake up, Wake up, Wake up, it’s Monday morning” from new album banger 'People' start the nights proceedings, the 1975 are now adding punk into their oeuvre, channelling the performative anger of artists like Marilyn Manson.

The opener grabs the audience by the throat and refuses to let go as they follow up with sumptuous hits 'Sex' and 'TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME', the audience showing their appreciation with unbridled enthusiasm. 'Sincerity is Scary' brings the music video to real life as Healy deftly shows his skills on a travellator in front of a backdrop of New York streets.

Two new songs from forthcoming album Notes on a Conditional Form make their way on to the setlist. Whilst 'Guys' is perhaps an unnecessarily self-indulgent love letter to their band, 'If You’re Too Shy' drips like honey over the audience, full of hooks and sure to become a future fan favourite track.

During the slightly bloated middle section, we are treated to the biggest spectacle of the night. Healy turns his back to the audience as a hydraulic lift raises his silhouette high above his fellow bandmates. The fuzzy backdrop screen starts to mutate and in a minute we find Healy inside the screen itself as a once hidden part of the stage reveals itself. It’s an optical illusion on a huge scale and creates a collective gasp from the audience, showing how creative a modern band can be.

Moments like Healy asking the audience not to heckle “or I’ll get pissed off” as Greta Thunberg’s speech rings through the arena show the band's commitment to make political statements. But, it all seems like an effort in futility when you think of the carbon footprint to take their stage on a world tour...only highlighted further when an audience member decides to celebrate the end of the speech by throwing their plastic beer cup into the crowd.

They save the euphoria until the end of the night with one delicious pop-rock after the other. Ending with the joyous 'The Sound' as Healy gets the whole crowd to jump, it’s a moment of real ecstasy. Sincerity might be scary...but it’s necessary at a 1975 gig.