The 1975 Live at Venue

by Irene Lo

Manchester-based band The 1975 have exploded onto the rock ‘n’ roll scene, carving themselves a niche for those who enjoy songs with a large dose of guitar riffs and tenacious vocals. This past Sunday, The 1975 made their first appearance in Vancouver, playing a sold-out show at Venue Nightclub that started a little after ten o’clock. The crowd, not shy in the least, proceeded to eat up all the tunes that The 1975 served.

Predominantly playing songs from their debut, self-titled album that dropped this September, their performance was loud to the point where lead singer Matthew Healy’s vocals became hard to discern and drummer George Daniel was a constant thunderous force. The 1975, a band that has re-branded itself through various name switches, have now settled on an image that cranks high the cool kid factor while simultaneously repackaging previously released songs as new, such as “Sex”, originally released in 2011. But somehow it’s a make-over the general public is down with, if one can judge by the receptive cheers that ended each song and the spontaneous catcalls and shouts that led Healy to respond at one point, “we love you too.”

“The City” kicked off the show, an emo rock song with the taunting lyric: “yeah you wanna find love then you know where the city is.” A sonically boisterous tune with an undercurrent of blue sadness to it, “The City” certainly set the mood for the first half hour, which moved smoothly along with songs like “M.O.N.E.Y.”, “Talk!”, “Sex”, and “Settle Down”. All were abnoctious beats that nonetheless captured a certain mood of emotional disquiet. “Talk!”, “Sex”, and “Settle Down” fired on all cylinders – vocals, guitars, and drums all clamoring for attention. In comparison, “M.O.N.E.Y.”, an indie pop tune with synths that flicker in and out the ear, was one of the more mellow and reserved songs.

One of the more notable tracks off The 1975, “Heart Out”, was performed and besides being a fun and cheesy tune about love that features a mini-sax solo, it brings to the forefront the musical influence the 1980s has on The 1975, who have answered in interviews that their dream collaboration would be with Michael Jackson. “Girls” too is a pop rock tune that borders on retro cheese with a catchy chorus: “but she can’t be what you need if she’s seventeen. They’re just girls.”

Off The 1975’s IV EP released earlier this year, the lush and solemn track “fallingforyou” grinded things down to a halt. With an atmospheric beat that was sparse for a 1975 song, it was a welcome change to the ear, grown used to the clashing din.

One of the final songs of the set was the single “Chocolate”, a song that resonated with the crowd enough that they began to sing “we go where nobody knows, with guns hidden under our petticoats. We’re never gonna quit it, no, we’re never gonna quit it no.” It prompted Healy to push fans to “keep going. That’s what she said” because there is always, but always, an occasion for a reference from The Office.

Taking his own advice to heart, Healy wound up on top of the speakers, hunched over and playing his guitar. The spotlights flashed white and yellow, as if overcome by a seizure while the blinding flash captured Healy and co. looking suitably amped. All of a sudden, the lights went out and while The 1975 were swallowed in the black-out, the cheers and claps weren’t.