The 1975 delivers at Orange County Observatory

By Brenna Ritchey
Contributing Writer

“Are we going to have a great night?” Matthew Healy asked the crowd of a few hundred. Judging from the deafening roar in response, the answer was a resounding yes.

The 1975 undoubtedly put on an exceptional performance at the Orange County Observatory, as it captivated the audience through its remarkable sense of intimacy. The band’s indelible skills in an extraordinarily personal setting generated a deep emotional connection between the performers and the audience, resulting in an overall spectacular performance.

1975 consists of singer Healy, guitarist Adam Hann, drummer George Daniel and basist Ross McDonald. Although the Manchester-based band formed nearly 11 years ago, it was only last February that it publicly performed as The 1975. With the release of its first EP, “Facedown,” in August of 2012, the band became an overnight success, with its fame furthered by the release of its next two EP’s, which included popular singles “Sex” and “Chocolate.”

While The 1975’s sound is heavily influenced by bands such as The Cure and The Smiths, its style remains unique. During the performance, the band demonstrated this by incorporating synthesizers and intruiging guitar melodies. The blending of synthesizers with the guitar created a distinctive sound that separated the band from its predecessors. But, the real gem was Daniel’s drumming. His flawless executions of complex drum beats demonstrated talent that is unparalleled by any other indie rock performer.

Healy’s nuanced interactions with the crowd, like holding hands with fans and accepting gifts, produced an intense emotional reaction from the audience. Given how rare it is for a performer to act as such, the concert proved a unique display of genuine sentiment from the band.

The band played many of its more popular songs such as “Talk,” “Chocolate” and “The City.” The familiar setlist allowed the audience to sing along and the raw emotion of Henly’s vocals added a dimension of personality to the songs. The only flaw was the band’s late arrival. Their show lasted no more than 50 minutes, leaving much more to be desired by the end.

Despite this, the overall experience was positive, and the band’s passion was undeniable.

The 1975 performed at the Orange County Observatory in Orange County and is currently touring throughout Europe.