Review: The 1975, Truly At Their Very Best in Atlanta

Q&AMusic

Nov 21

☆ By Gabby Macogay ☆

IF THERE’S ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE — The 1975, it would be “cathartic.” Acting as both a breath of fresh air and a wave of reminiscence, the English pop-rock group has dominated the alternative music scene for years, gaining mass followings of all ages and stages of life as they’ve grown and developed their sound over the years.

Led by frontman Matty Healy, the four-part band, composed of lead vocalist Healy, guitarist Adam Hann, drummer George Daniel, and bassist Ross MacDonald, has created an environment that feels similar to the warm embrace of an old friend. And that’s the unique driving force of The 1975 as a whole: nostalgia.

A band that has perfected the art of curating an interconnected discography dedicated to their long-term fanbase, they expand upon their sound and continue to experiment with new directions and tones with each new release. This is exactly why their At Their Very Best Tour lived up to its name and beyond.

The set itself, designed to resemble the interior of a house, was enough to make you feel like you were right at home with the band. It was a unique yet comfortable way for The 1975 to reintroduce themselves to the public after their previously scheduled tour for their 2020 album, Notes on a Conditional Form, was canceled due to COVID-19. Now back and better than ever with their newest album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language, they were ready to take on a new challenge for fans with such a twist in their typical stage layout. And if there’s one thing this band nails every single time, it’s stage presence.

One of the most heartwarmingly recognizable parts of an album from The 1975 is their opening self-titled track. Described by Healy as a “status update” for each era, “The 1975” is a track that appears on each of their five full-length albums. This opening was one of the most poignant performances of the show, setting the tone for the evening that was yet to come. (Bonus points to Healy for surprising us southerners with a flannel outfit and his natural curls instead of his usual tour outfit and slicked-back hair, a fun surprise.)

The show, divided into two halves, began with the band performing a majority of their newest album through the beginning, mixed in with a few fan-favorite hits such as “Roadkill” and “fallingforyou,” and then transitioning to some of their top hits from previous eras in the latter half.

The setlist, confirmed by Healy to change slightly every night, was a perfect balance of high-energy, head-banging songs to dance and scream to such as “I’m In Love With You” and more pensively dynamic tracks such as “All I Need to Hear.”

Healy is known for being a somewhat controversial figure with a boldly ironic social presence online, and being aware of this makes it all the more understandable how his antics between the show’s halves have been going viral. From eating raw meat onstage to using an oxygen mask to completing a few push-ups in front of the audience, Healy has an interesting way of providing social commentary that, despite its initial bizarreness, is well-received, and somehow finds a way to fit within the theme of the show. His point is clever - and while it may come off to some as unrelated, it becomes very clear that Healy’s performance art is a play off of toxic masculinity pipelines. Complete with a sense of surrealism yet rooted in realist ideologies, Healy is quite the showrunner and knows exactly how to give his audience a performance to remember.

Some tracks the band had notably been switching on and off the setlist during prior tour dates include “A Change of Heart,” “Paris,” and “Medicine.” While all of these songs are near and dear to my The 1975–loving heart, I firmly believe Atlanta lucked out with “A Change of Heart,” a song I believe perfectly captures the beautifully crafted essence of The 1975’s sophomore album, and one that had masterfully designed lighting with the most stunning hues of pink and teal casting a glow across the entirety of the State Farm Arena. I mean, seriously, what other band can make lyrics about posting an edited photo of your salad for lunch online so heartbreakingly poignant?

One of the most exciting parts about being a fan of The 1975 is noticing the cross-referencing throughout their discography, which was an experience heightened during the show. Two songs after “A Change of Heart” came the highly-anticipated “Robbers,” a classic staple of the band from their self-titled album. To hear the difference in tone as Healy repeated the phrase “Face straight out of a magazine” in both songs was enough to bring any die-hard The 1975 fan to tears. And don’t even get me started on “About You,” a new song off their fifth album, basically a “Robbers” continuation with its own emotional punch to pack.

I can now say from personal experience that screaming the lyrics to “Robbers” in a crowd of thousands is one of the most divine experiences a person can have. Again, the word “cathartic” is the only thing I think is powerful enough to describe this moment. The 1975 have held onto their strong reputation in the alternative music scene for years, dedicating themselves to fans who have continued to grow alongside their music for as long as they can remember. In “Robbers,” you can hear past and present fans screaming alongside their younger teen selves who heard this song for the very first time about a decade ago.

Another strong choice on the Atlanta setlist was the inclusion of “Love It If We Made It,” a song observing modern society, complete with direct quotes and headlines from overbearingly recognizable political elites, or just whatever Healy feels needs to be shared during his time onstage. After the recent midterm elections, the song remains more powerful and relevant than ever as we so desperately grasp for a change. At the DC show, Healy even dedicated this song to Maxwell Frost, who was in attendance celebrating his win in becoming the first Gen Z member of Congress.

One problem with The 1975 is that their discography is so lovably expansive. Even with a 23-song setlist, I was devastated to hear the last song play. But hey, that’s a good problem to have.

I have never jumped as high, sang as loud, or smiled as much at any concert before, and I can attribute all of this to “The Sound.” I don’t think there are enough words to describe the energy level inside the arena when this song was performed — it was truly something unforgettable or replicable.

For that reason, I almost expected “The Sound” to be the body of work that closed off the show with a bang. However, it was thrilling to find out “Give Yourself a Try” was the last song of the night. Riddled with messages of growing up, finding understanding within yourself, and simply giving yourself a chance is about as perfect a send-off as you can give to a room full of thousands of fans who have grown up with your music over the years.

As the intro to the song played, Healy thanked the audience for their time and mentioned a return to the US following the rest of their announced tour dates next year. Exclaiming one final statement as “Give Yourself a Try” overtook the arena: “Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the best band in the world, The 1975!” And the people went wild.

The 1975 is a complicated body of work, founded in roots of deep, deep yearning and nostalgia but desperately plowing forward to create a new and innovative experience for fans with every release. They are a reminder that the concepts of growth and change are just as exciting as they are scary, paying off in the most necessary of ways with each leap and bound The 1975 takes in each new chapter of their musical journey.

If I didn’t already drive home this point enough, they are sincerely at their very, very best.

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