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The 1975 love it that they've made it at London's O2

The band are back and things are different

Published: 4:43 pm, February 04, 2019 Words: Ali Shutler. Photos: Frances Beach.

Progressive, proactive and doing things their own way, tonight sees The 1975 return to London’s O2 with a very different show to the pristine and soulful stand they made here at the end of 2016. But then ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships’ is a very different record to what’s come before. That first album grabbed attention. Their second grabbed headlines and acclaim while this one has wrapped itself firmly around hearts, minds and imagination. Tonight it feels like anything is possible. As ‘Love Theme’ disintegrates into ‘The 1975’, the band take the stage and tear into the rugged screech of ‘Give Yourself A Try’. It’s chaotic, raw and triumphant before the dance-routine bop of ‘TooTimeTooTimeTooTime’ spins through colour and joy. The shimmering romp of ‘She’s American’ quickly follows, new shades and new shapes making themselves at home in the ever-shifting space.

The world of The 1975 doesn’t begin and end with the band though. Dirty Hit labelmates No Rome open the show, a fizzing blend of pop velocity and rock star confidence that really comes into focus when he joins The 1975 later in the night for ‘Narcissist’. Next up, Pale Waves’ gargantuan and gothic pop songs are custom built for rooms of this size. Hand on heart and eyes wide open, they flicker with brilliance before turning inwards, sharing secrets and standing apart.