The 1975 at Rod Laver Arena
Photo Credit: Images have been supplied.
The 1975 are no strangers to Melbourne, and returned triumphantly to our city to perform their At Their Very Best tour; bringing along with them a greatest hits setlist covering all of their albums, and delivering on every fan’s hopes and dreams.
The evening commenced with support from Wallice, the 25-year-old Los Angeles singer-songwriter who almost stole the show with her indie-pop hits. Opening with a bang, Wallice went straight into popular tracks 90’s American Superstar and Little League. Unreleased track Disappear is a taste for things to come, while a stadium-wide shout-out to anyone named Michael introduced her track aptly named Hey Michael.
Her first-ever release, Punching Bag, was performed acoustically, and track Off the Rails went absolutely off the rails with the crowd immersed in the world Wallice had created. Latest release Best Friend, which only came out just last week, was met with great enthusiasm from the sold-out crowd. Our favourite moment from the set was Wallice’s personal favourite song Funeral, which had the audience swaying along to the catchy bop. Leaving the crowd wanting more, Wallice finished her set on a high with her infectious hit 23 – leaving a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. We can’t wait to see what 2023 has in store for Wallice.
The 1975‘s At Their Very Best Tour was an absolute spectacle from start to finish. The concert began with a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the band, hanging out, singing and messing around. Vocalist Matt Healy took us through the back alleys of Rod Laver Arena, telling the audience they want the show to be ‘as real as possible’. As the lights dimmed, the energy of the concert was palpable. A simple ‘good evening’ from Healy was enough to trigger the screams of thousands of adoring fans, as he launched into opening track Be My Mistake, which he performed solo. Taking time to describe the show ahead, Healy tells the audience that the show is about ‘exploring the complex nature of being a man, being famous for being obnoxious’ and that the show was split into two halves – a call for something sincere, and direct.
The full band joined Healy on stage to launch straight into tracks from their latest album Being Funny in a Foreign Language, including Looking for Somebody (to Love), Happiness, and Oh Caroline, with classic UGH! also thrown into the mix. When finally introducing the band, Healy simply stated, ‘ladies and gentlemen, we are Manchester’s sexiest band, The 1975’. What followed included the upbeat and groovy Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy), the emotionally charged I Couldn’t Be More in Love, and the infectious hit If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know). The crowd was immediately swept up in the energy and enthusiasm of the band, with Healy’s charismatic stage presence and vocals driving the performance.
Healy regularly expressed his love for Melbourne as a city and a place he called home for the first two years of his life. Clearly happy to be back in Australia, the banter was playful and engaging, stating ‘this is The 1975 – live with your own eyes’, telling the crowd, ‘Melbourne is doing it right’. Extremely self-aware of his reputation, Healy talks about why he’s not on the internet anymore and how he wants his art to do the talking. Hand on flask, cigarette in mouth, the band continue with I’m In Love With You, fallingforyou and everyone’s favourite new track About You. Throwback track Robbers had everyone on their feet, singing and dancing, while She’s American was a standout; its upbeat and catchy tune perfectly paired with a remarkable saxophone solo.
Somebody Else took the energy to another level, and saw the crowd emotionally singing along to every word. Each night the setlist has a few tracks that change in the setlist and on night one in Melbourne we were fortunate enough to hear new track When We Are Together – which was beautiful. The biggest sing-a-long of the night was for It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You), and an acoustic rendition of Paris was captivating and raw. Crowd favourite Love It If We Made It saw Healy retire to the couch onstage for a sit-down and a smoke, and a fan request saw the band perform the first verse of Guys.
As the show came to a close, I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes), The Sound, and Sex had the crowd in a frenzy, with Healy asking the audience, ‘who remembers 2013? Feels like another life’. Ending on Give Yourself a Try, the humble musicians from Manchester thanked the audience for their love and support. ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, please give it up for the world’s best band – The 1975,’ they declared, leaving the crowd on a high that would last long after the concert ended.