Live Review: The 1975, Manchester

Posted by popped music on September 24, 2014 · Leave a Comment

The 1975

Manchester o2 Apollo, 22nd September 2014

One of the best things about doing what I do is getting to watch bands that I’ve supported and followed from little acorns grow into their big trees. The 1975 are one of those bands. They seem to be a bit of a Marmite band for many people I know but I always enjoyed the music as well as saw the potential.

Never before have I heard a room scream because smoke is blown from smoke machines. I was in fits of laughter. As much as I could see that the band could, and probably would, do well, I never quite envisaged Matt Healy turning into a sex god and having gaggles of girls screaming at his every word and move – let alone at his smoke machines.

Hormonal hysteria aside this is a band that still command respect from music fans who, probably like me, invested in time trying to decipher lyrics, who, unlike me, have figured out all the chords. This venue was packed to the rafters with all of us, all jostling to see, all hopping around in various forms of “dance”.

A colourless set design seems to bring more attention to the band’s music. It’s far from underwhelming an experience but there’s nothing to take your eye from the band, nothing to detract and fits flawlessly with their perfectly designed black and white format that they have used since day dot. The only time we saw any colour was the surprise introduction of red when the band ended with their single Sex. – One of the best things they ever did was to name that song the way they did – perhaps they had a premonition that hundreds of people would yell “we want sex” at their shows.

I love a bit of brass and the introduction of their saxophonist continued to build on the general hysteria and worship in the venue. I hope this band is helping to encourage those younger generations to pick up more than a bottle of beer and a guitar. They didn’t just drag the guy out for one track, oh no, we had lots of sax which was gave added flavour.

: Copyright: Popped Music

There shouldn’t be a review out there that fails to mention the most poignant moment of the evening. Toward the end of the set Matt told everyone to be quiet as he proceeded to read out an e-mail from fans to the band’s manager. The subject of which was serious and heartbreaking as a group of guys standing not too far from me huddled together as their e-mail about the loss of their friend who took his own life was read out by a genuinely emotional Mr H. Meanwhile, in front of me, two absolute *****’s laughed as the rest of the venue gasped in shock and clapped in honour of this tribute. Shame on you! – “This song isn’t about death. It’s about smoking weed and fucking.” Healy yelps before launching into the most raucous version of Chocolate I’ve ever heard.

It was a hot and fun fuelled show stuffed with all the best bits and more of their debut album. It the first show to sell out on The 1975 tour, the first of many and if things keep going this way I’m certain we won’t be getting in to see them play this sized venue for much longer.

The 1975 Played:

The City
Milk
So Far
She Way Out
An Encounter
Heart Out
Pressure
Falling For You
You
HNSCC
Menswear
Girls
—
Robbers
Chocoalte
Sex

Filed under Live Review · Tagged with gig, gig review, Live Review, Music, The 1975

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