THE 1975 // THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW
The millennial icons, The 1975, put on a night that celebrated the trends of today and hit out with a hard political statement – but did they send the right message?
THE 1975 PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S SSE HYDRO - 01.03.2020
PICTURE BY: | JORDAN CURTIS HUGHES
★★★★☆ (4/5)
The 1975 have come a long way from the early sound of their self-titled debut released in 2013. A smoky haze that wandered through their work has been runout by an electropop blast and their performances have become a grand spectacle that mirrors the band’s blossoming stardom and growing extravagance.
Their fourth album, Notes on a Conditional Form, has faced a delayed release and is now set to come out at the end of April. This is due to ongoing reworking but that wouldn’t stop the tour; and at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro arena, the 1975 played with a heavy focus on this unreleased work and the fans seemed to already know the album well.
Coming out in explosion of light, iconic frontman Matt Healy bounded across the stage. Healey was dressed in a headscarf and leather trousers, it’s clear he thinks of himself as every bit the star. It contrasts starkly to the rest of the band who look like they have just stepped out of a Weatherspoon’s on a Sunday afternoon. Lead guitarist Adam Hann and bassist Ross MacDonald are gloomy bookends to Healy eccentric stage presence.
THE 1975 PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S SSE HYDRO - 01.03.2020
PICTURE BY: | JORDAN CURTIS HUGHES
As the set opens, it launches into new, hard-edge track ‘People.’ It is punchy and punky and kicks of the night with thrust – and that isn’t just from Healy’s dancing. And the off-the-wall dancing continues all night from him. ‘TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME’ sees Healy go through many dances made famous – years ago- by smash hit game Fortnite. The dancing is an eye-roll, the trend’s been and gone, and though Healy got a laugh from some, the reality is that the appeal of these moves reaches only to little kids now. The vocal delivery also suffered during this song and lyrics were mumbled and muffled – maybe due to Healy being too busy trying to Nae Nae.
The energy stays high as Healy keeps himself supercharged as he runs about the stage. A 20ft treadmill is set up across the front of the stage and he dances across it throughout the night. Saxophonist, John Waugh, joins the bands for a couple of songs. New number ‘Me & You Together Song’ is a clear crowd favourite despite its newness. The older, trip-beat track ‘Menswear’ is played brilliantly but the contrast is too much between old and new when this track is surrounded by the walls of synth-pop that is ‘It’s Not Living’ and the cheeky new track ‘If You’re Too Shy.’
Before the track ‘Love Me’ Healy addressed the crowd. He spoke of finding comfort with one’s sexuality before turning his back to the crowd and reaching round and giving himself a smack on his leather-clad rear.
THE 1975 PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S SSE HYDRO - 01.03.2020
PICTURE BY: | JORDAN CURTIS HUGHES
The set moves at an efficient pace and keeps a bubbly, upbeat atmosphere. The cheer, however, boils-over with new release ‘Guys.’ This corny, emotional but bland track is one that should be made a B-side and, when played live with a cheesy montage, it pushed the night into a sickening sweetness. They then launch into a series of their older favourites including ‘Robbers,’ ‘Fallingforyou’ and rarity ‘Milk.’ Their performance of these more classic tracks is almost flawless and the group clearly have it down to a fine art. They are all highly skilled musicians. On stage they are all switching between instruments, layering beats, and nailing their timings but they take on a lot. They host a dramatic light show as well as song specific visuals; they switch between the soft and the unconventional, and clearly try very hard to impress their fans. It could be possible they take on too much and it leaves them open to shortcomings.
The night is closed after a poignant, recorded speech by it-girl activist Greta Thunberg. She encouraged everyone to start making changes now to improve humanity’s environmental impact. As powerful as this was, it did leave the question on the impact that an arena tour as grandiose as The 1975’s has on the environment. There is something quite wrong with a tour that is so excessive but also then drives a message to the fans to cut down the excess.
Overall the night left the fans happy. From having seen Healy whizz across the stage; to hearing some of The 1975’s best tracks performed with gusto; the night was an indulgence but kept its finesse. There were points when a sour note was stuck but with the magnitude of the band at the moment, The 1975 seem an unstoppable force.
SETLIST: | THE 1975 : THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW - 01.03.2020
Love Theme : Tape Intro
The 1975 (ABIIOR) : Tape Intro
People
Sex
TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME
Me & You Together Song
Sincerity Is Scary
It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You)
Menswear
If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)
I Couldn’t Be More in Love
Love Me
Guys
An Encounter
Robbers
fallingforyou
Milk
Lostmyhead
The Birthday Party
Frail State of Mind
I Like America & America Likes Me
HNSCC
Somebody Else
I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)
The 1975 (NOACF)
Love It If We Made It
Chocolate
Give Yourself a Try
The Sound