Allow me to preface this by saying, I know I’m crazy and stupid. I’m very self-aware.
I flew 860 miles to see "The 1975" live for my 18th birthday and it was 100% worth it.
In March, I was going through some sort of “I can do whatever I want. No one can stop me” phase. I think it was one of the ups on my Depression Roller-coaster. I decided to ride this moment and randomly buy tickets to see my favorite band on my birthday without anyone’s permission but my own. They were coming nowhere near the south (still mad at them for that), so my travel would be farther out than I had hoped for. I had the tickets, now my only problems were: plane tickets, hotels, food, and transportation. Those were easily attainable in my stupid mind. After about a month of my mom freaking out and yelling at me, I was on my way to the lovely Rochester, New York with my best friend by my side.
I had already experienced a "The 1975" concert back in November 2014, but this was back in their all black stage and they weren't as huge as they are now. I had no idea what to expect from this show, especially since it was in a new place and during their new era. I felt isolated in the crowd. Everyone knew each other because they lived near each other and went to the same schools. The only thing that brought us together was our love for the band we were about to see. That was it.
As soon as the opening acts were done and the lights dimmed for "The 1975," a roar erupted in the crowd. We were all waiting for him. Sure George, Ross, and Adam are well loved throughout their fan base, but Matty Healy is a different creature. His own entity. He's larger than life. I hate to put anyone on a pedestal, but Matty created his for himself through his opinions, his fashion choices, and just the way he carries himself. He demands the glorification, but he acts like he doesn't want it.
The boys took the stage after an instrumental interlude (the song titled "The 1975") and the screams were deafening. I felt an appreciative emotion wash over me while looking at them all from the cracks between people's heads. I'm a very emotional human being, so I'm surprised I didn't shed a tear at the sight of them. It was a tear-worthy moment, don't get me wrong, I had probably just used up all of my tears on something else.
They opened with "Love Me" a very dance-y tune that mocks celebrities of today. It was my first time experiencing a song from their newest album live. To quote my friend Emily, "I have died and gone to pastel heaven," is the only way to describe how that felt. Their set was mesmerizing. A sort of television screen was behind the band displaying images that perfectly fit every song. Pastel colors danced across the screen for fun songs like "UGH!" and darker images matched the dark tones of songs like "Me." They are very much a concept band. Their albums have different themes to them, even if it's just a change in color scheme. In 2014, all they had behind them was their signature rectangles. Their show is now more than just a concert now. It's like a religious experience.
The crowd was also amazing. We were all dancing and singing as crazily as Matty was. It felt like we were a unified force. That indescribable feeling you get at a concert when everyone is just together took place in that room on that night. It made the concert much better. It was what a concert was supposed to be like. No troubles. No worries. Just everyone who loves the band and the band themselves.
To sum it all up, "The 1975" is a band you have to see live. Even if you aren't the biggest fan of them, you still have a good time because it is impossible for them to not make you have the time of your life. They are a band that just keeps getting better with each live performance. Back in 2014, I felt like Matty was still figuring out how to be a frontman and how to command a crowd. Now, he's got it all figured out. He knows how to make each person feel like an important piece to the show. He knows how to make you forget everything and just live in that moment. I was alive and they were alive with me. And that was all that mattered.
