The 1975 - Green Door Store, Brighton - 8th February 2013 (Live Review)
Monday, 11 February 2013
Written by Ryan Crittenden
With the expected talk of the resurgence in British guitar music cropping up at the beginning of yet another year, it is no surprise to see The 1975 on a lot of peoples lists. However annoying and predictable these chats about who will be the saviours of British guitar music during any given year are, the Manchester four-piece put their case forward to a packed Green Door Store in Brighton.
The 1975 walk on stage to a decent reception and with three-hooded members it appears that the bass player missed the memo and remains hoodless as the band launch into their set.
With just a handful of available EP’s and singles available, the first few tracks of the night are more unknown as opposed to underwhelming. Once lead singer Matthew Healy breaks free of the hood that seemed to be restricting his comfort he explains; "We put this on the internet and it's in the charts already, so if you guys had anything to do with that thank you” before playing ‘Chocolate’.
This proved to be the turning point of the gig as the bobbing heads of the crowd seemed to settle the band down. Jerky guitar riffs make up the poppy melodies that combine with easy-on-the-ear vocals to form the prominent sound of The 1975. The nice buzz of a synth adds another dimension to the group who echo French outfit M83 during their most electro-inspired moments.
Casually sipping from his bottle of wine and running his hand though his take on his mohawk-like hairstyle throughout, frontman Healy addresses the sizable crowd a few times during the set but the biggest ovation of the evening comes on his announcement that they have finished writing their album and the band are “happy with it.”
The 1975 seem to improve as things go along and ‘The City’ is another familiar number that is met with nods of approval and foot tapping from the audience as they seem to enjoy the piercing 80’s influence synth lines and drum beat. Arguably the bands most familiar number, ‘Sex’ sounds like an anthem in the waiting, a song about love seems to be a staple for a guitar band’s first hit and with this test passed it is left to the standout song of the night ‘You’ to bring show to an end.
The 1975 have already lined-up a UK tour for May, despite not yet finishing their lengthy January and February trip.
Mon February 11th 2013 - Shipping Forecast, Liverpool
Tue February 12th 2013 - Mixtape at Keys, Middlesborough
Wed February 13th 2013 - Bodega Social, Nottingham
Thu February 14th 2013 - Compass, Chester
Fri February 15th 2013 - 53 Degrees, Preston
Sat February 16th 2013 - Deaf Institute, Manchester
Mon February 18th 2013 - Borderline, London
Tue May 21st 2013 - Brickyard, The, Carlisle
Wed May 22nd 2013 - Northumbria University, Newcastle
Thu May 23rd 2013 - Queens Social Club, Sheffield
Mon May 27th 2013 - Oran Mor, Glasgow
Tue May 28th 2013 - Institute Library, Birmingham
Wed May 29th 2013 - Heaven, London
Fri May 31st 2013 - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
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