The 1975 & International Journalism

A while back (4th October) I went to go see The 1975 in Utrecht and ended up reviewing it for my International Journalism course. I thought I would post it here as well, so here goes (apologies for the shocking headline). Many thanks to the very lovely Anna for buying these tickets and super sorry you couldn’t come – next time!

2.5 bottles of wine later: an incredible performance by The 1975

Emma Healey reviews the 1975 in Utrecht.

“I’m sorry I don’t speak Dutch. Please don’t see it as a reflection of my ignorance, see it as a reflection of your intelligence.” – Matt Healy

With a sold-out performance at TivoliVrendenburg as part of a world tour, it is clear that The 1975 have burst on to the music scene – a far cry from the years of rejection by numerous record companies, and even last year performing at the Camden Barfly. These years of hardship however have only served to improve them as a band and their time experimenting with different genres have left them with a sound that bridges the gap between pop-punk and indie- and electro-rock. A blend that situates them perfectly as a band for the millennials – but it is a testament to their talent that their appeal stretches beyond this. They have been well-received by music critics and their self-titled debut album reached number 1 on the UK albums chart.

As the latest export of Manchester’s music scene, The 1975 step in the footsteps of artists such as Oasis. Whilst they are an extremely talented foursome, it is clear that the androgynous, tattooed front-man Matt Healy is the shining star and heartthrob of the group. As the son of Denise Welch, Coronation Street and Waterloo Road, and Tim Healy, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, he is no stranger to the lime-light and from his performance it is clear that he thrives on the attention and the adoration of his (largely female) fan base. Whether he is dancing, smoking or drinking copious amounts of wine (a total of two and a half bottles during the two hour set), he is met with screams – something Healy hugely plays with in his interactions with the crowd.

Photo by me

At a sold-out gig consisting predominantly of well-established fans, the atmosphere was fantastic, particularly during their hits such as “Sex” and “Chocolate” which the crowd enthusiastically sung along to. The electricity during the better-known songs as well as the skill of the tech team succeeded in carrying this atmosphere through slower and less popular songs that otherwise could have fallen flat.

The lively atmosphere, charismatic performance and raw talent make The 1975 one to watch out for – if this performance was anything to go by, it shouldn’t be long before they are selling out stadiums.