If your first impression of The 1975 was of the throng of young girls lined up in front of the Thebby for hours in the sweltering heat, you might have been tempted to underestimate one of the hardest working bands from Britain.
The alternative rock band from Manchester, known for their 80s influence and lyrics exploring themes of identity, fear and love had the crowd in the palm of its hand from beginning to end. The 1975’s melding of synth pop with sharp guitar riffs have been the band’s mainstay since their first EP release in 2012, and though their sound has evolved slightly, the core elements that their fans know and love remain.
Photo by Eli Barila.
Support act The Japanese House was met with a surprising amount of enthusiasm, given the long line up and the soaring temperature. Amber Bain’s brooding vocals and hazy alt-pop sound left the crowd wanting more, but thankful for a quick reprieve before the dance storm that was soon to hit.
The 1975 came roaring into the show with new single “Love Me”, and the crowd were with them from the first note. The album’s 80s influence is evident in the new track, with strong nods to the work of Peter Gabriel and INXS.
The band, renowned for their affinity for funky synth pop and tunes that you can dance your heart out to, had the entire theatre on their feet for spirited renditions of popular hits “Girls”, “Settle Down” and “Robbers”.
Photo by Eli Barila.
There was also time for the slower paced songs, including “You”, and “Falling For You.” The Thebarton Theatre was the perfect venue for the band, being both intimate and full of character.
What can separate the great bands from the good is their performance in the smaller cities. There are the bands that seem to care about Adelaide, and the ones that seem to be saving their energy for our eastern neighbours. The 1975 gave the crowd at the Thebby everything that they had. Front man Matty Healy spoke of the band’s wish for everyone in the room to be fully present, declaring that for just one song that he didn’t want to see a single mobile phone pointed at the stage.
“This is about all of us, being here,” he said.
With a spirited encore of crowd favourites including, “Chocolate” and “Sex”, The 1975 came, they saw, and they damn well conquered.
The 1975’s second album, ‘I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it,’ is out February 26 2016.
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