Way back in 2014, I went to see a band at Sydney Big Day Out festival called The 1975. Playing a small stage, early in the day they were touted as the next big thing, so I made sure I watched them.
Now fast forward nine years later, I find myself back at Sydney Olympic Park in Homebush, but this time witnessing them play an arena headline show. After playing a sold-out show at Sydney’s Aware Super Theatre on Friday, it’s now Sunday, and the last day of the Australian tour. The 1975 are capping it off in huge style, playing Qudos Bank Arena. Thousands of fans make their way into the venue amidst the glow of the Royal Easter Show lights next door.
First on stage was American indie pop support act, Wallice. The Los Angeles born singer/songwriter accompanied by her band, beamed with gratitude to be playing her biggest Australian show. Her songs were full of emotion driven lyrics, giving similar vibes to Olivia Rodrigo. During her set we got to hear a brand new song live called ‘Best Friend’, and the super catchy ‘23’. New Australian fans of Wallice will be elated at the news she hopes to return for her own headline tour in October.
After a short break, the moment had arrived that everyone had been waiting for. The arena floor was full of phones thrust in the air ready to record. Huge screens above the stage lit up to show vocalist Matt Healey shirtless in a bed backstage waking from his slumber, before it was wheeled onto stage. He buttoned his shirt up as he appeared on stage, receiving Harry Styles level screams from the crowd. Finishing his opening monologue by explaining he is the “singer and protagonist of The 1975”. He then grabbed his acoustic guitar began playing ‘When We Are Together’ taken from the bands newest album ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’. The rest of the band then joined him on stage electrifying the night with ‘Looking For Somebody (To Love)’.
During the show, Matt would smoke cigarettes, drink wine and swig from a flask that I can only assume contained an elixir from the fountain of youth, because he doesn’t seem to age. ‘I’m In Love With You’ embodied how the crowd was feeling – there was evidentially plenty of love in the room. The level of musicianship throughout the night made for a pitch perfect indie-rock set.
A surprise rendition of Backstreet Boy’s ‘I Want It That Way’ had the voice of the whole crowd. A cover that seemed appropriate as just weeks before in the same venue, Backstreet Boys echoed the same song through the arena. The singalong continued straight after with ‘She’s American’, which had Matt commenting “you are a singy bunch”. We were then warned ‘don’t text your ex tonight’ before the band started ‘Somebody Else’.
The main set closed with ‘Love It If We Made It’, but the audience wasn’t ready for the love affair to end. The band returned to the stage for an encore starting with ‘Be My Mistake’, before Matt, in awe of the experience, explained “it’s hard for me to grasp playing in a room this big, we started this when we were thirteen.” We then got a tease of the verse of ‘Guys’, followed by the dark yet optimistic ‘I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)’.
Before the night came to a close, the arenas speakers were given a work out with ‘The Sound’. The song was accompanied by a euphoric light show that had everyone jumping, before ending the night with ‘Sex’ and finally the upbeat ‘Give Yourself A Try’.
The enigmatic Matt left the stage by saying “you’ve been watching my favourite band, please give it up for The 1975”. Huge cheers and applause erupted from the crowd as the band reluctantly left the stage.
Tonight was a saxy display of a band at their very best. Next up, The 1975 play New Zealand, so to our friends across the ditch, we say grab your tickets and experience the happiness for yourself.
(Photo by Jordan Curtis Hughes)
