The 1975
Support: Y.O.U., Circa Waves
Barrowlands, Glasgow, 24/9/14
Entering the Barrowlands on a breezy Wednesday night couldn’t have been any more tense. With metal detectors and strict limits on cameras, you would think you were entering a top secret military base, not one of the most renowned venues in Glasgow. Yet I guess the streams of teenage girls screaming and trying to run through security would give you a clue as to what band were playing.
The 1975 returned to Glasgow with Y.O.U. and Circa Waves to perform a sell-out gig at the Barrowlands. Y.O.U. were the first to come on stage with excellent combinations of Depeche Mode-esque electronic melodies and rock guitars. The only problems with their set was they were on first yet had a more developed sound when compared to Circa Waves but that leads into the second problem of their anonymity. Circa Waves followed them with the repetitive indie rock of a copy and paste band. The only consolidation with this act was their songs were relatively short.
It took two and a half hours after doors opening for The 1975 to finally arrive in all their spectacular glory, but it would be hard not to say they were worth the wait. They had an atmospheric build up with smoke and the gradual lowering of the house lights for ten minutes before appearing on stage through the mist adorned in heavy coats despite the overwhelming heat inside the venue. Within seconds and without so much as a hello, the bouncing Matt Healy was jumping around the stage and dancing to the splendid mix of electronic beats and thrashing guitars.
Healy was the fearless leader who knew exactly how to improve the night and he wouldn’t let anyone be left behind in The 1975 madness. While Healy is infamous for drinking on stage, it never seemed to affect his ability to care for his fans as he stopped between songs numerous times to check in on the enthusiasts pushed together at the front and even ordered staff to get him water bottles to throw into the middle of the crowd so fans wouldn’t dehydrate. He listened to the crowd even when the lights failed during a performance of Menswear – which they played again without the album cover-shaped backing lights.
Overall, the night was one of the most enthralling performances I’ve ever been to and I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
[rating=5]
