The 1975 Live Review

The 1975 - O2 Academy, Newcastle (15/11/2015)

Callum Thornhill

 An aesthetically wonderful display joined the 1975 on stage at Newcastle's O2 Academy.

Front man Matty Healy (son of Geordie legend Tim Healy and former Loose Woman Denise Welch) generously exclaimed to the sold out Newcastle crowd: "Gigs like this are intimate for us now so we're going to play loads of songs for you!"

Also gaining Brownie points with the Geordie crowd he announced: "I've signed a contract to say that this band will never play Sunderland's Stadium of Light."

As the lights went down, the fans lit the venue back up with endless mobile phone cameras pointing at the stage - eagerly capturing a memento of the 1975's visit to the north east.

They came on stage just after 9pm and opened with latest single Love Me, a song that sounds million miles away from the vibe of their debut album.

The 1975 disappeared from both the earth and the internet earlier this year before rebranding their edgy black image with a vivid pastel pink. Love Me's artwork was the same and the new album (I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It) is available to pre-order on heavyweight pink vinyl.

New songs were experimented with throughout the set, however the tracks from the EPs that came before the self-titled debut album that stole the show.

You from the Sex EP was a personal highlight as the mellow sound reflected into the crowd who swayed arm in arm singing the words back at the band.

Dressed in baggy dungarees Matty Healy swigged wine on stage throughout the gig, constantly passing it backstage whenever the glass was empty to be refilled. The wine must have went to Healy's head as he danced on every inch of the stage, including the speakers behind him causing a vibrant silhouette against the bright backdrop.

Album track Girls closed the set for the 1975 before they left the stage for a brief period. Chants of: "We want more!" echoed around the venue. Naturally the band returned to play a three song encore.

The 1975 returned to the stage to firstly play Medicine (which has recently been repressed on amber vinyl). No gig by the 1975 is complete without arguably their two biggest tracks.

Matty Healy teasingly shouted: "We have two songs left for you. I bet you can guess what they are!" Chocolate was the penultimate track that had the 2000 strong crowd signing their hearts out. Finishing this song had fans chanting: "We want sex!" at the band.

Ask and you shall receive. Sex closed an amazing gig and it will be a pleasurable surprise if the 1975 return to Newcastle in the near future. Support came from the talented youngster Rat Boy. Similar to Jamie T and the Streets he is destined for big things having already supported Circa Waves, the 1975 and has already played Reading and Leeds Festival.

The 1975 have announced a Spring tour to coincide with the release of I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It. Tickets are available here.