English band The 1975 rose to popularity amongst the infamous 2013-2014 Tumblr era, the period when it was socially acceptable to wear sweatshirts with pleated, skater skirts and ripped fishnets, and cigarettes were heavily romanticized. As repeated in every generation, teenagers were fixated on the idea of rebelling against their suburban lives through self-expression and, of course, angsty, alternative music that their parents could not sufficiently comprehend.
The 1975, composed of lead man Matty Healy, drummer George Daniels, guitarist Adam Hann and bassist Ross MacDonald, was foundational to this era with their bawdy lyrics and drug-related undertones. Healy sang of longing, displacement and complicated love over eclectic guitar riffs and synth-pop influences. The image of a single, blank rectangle and black-and-white photographs became synonymous with their brand.
While I was too young to experience the iconic Tumblr era myself, echoes of it still lingered in media and music during my middle school years. Consequently, The 1975 became integral to my daily playlists at the frustrating age of 13.
Since then, I have had the experience of seeing the band twice, in Atlanta on both occasions. The first time was during my freshman year of high school and the second during my freshman year of college — an interesting paradox, to say the least.
Over the years, The 1975 has become more and more associated with the New York of the South in my head. This can most likely be attributed to the location of my concerts and how often I listen to their moody ballads on my drives home. However, there is a deeper, underlying connection to unveil.
The 1975 is known for being chaotic and, at times, controversial — just like Atlanta.
Frontman Healy is no stranger to a good controversy, and his bandmates seem to stand by and hope for the best. The “Robbers” singer has been tied to untactful statements and opinions that often come off as misleading and sometimes worse. From kissing fans to making fun of rapper Ice Spice to eating raw meat on stage, Healy is a hot topic in the same way “Hotlanta” is a dumpster fire.
“It’s very well for me to say, I don’t understand how famous I am,” Healy said during a show in April of 2023. “I don’t like being famous. But reality is reality. And I think that I’ve said some things or kind of, I make a joke out of everything. That’s my thing. And I can take it too far sometimes in front of too many people. And I feel a bit embarrassed. So, that’s the truth.”
Atlanta is often closely associated with its crime activity and rampant racism that lingers decades after segregation has been outlawed. However, younger generations and millennials still flock to “The City” demanding that there is something special and that it is a wonderful place to “Settle Down.”
No one really loves Atlanta as a whole, but it does have its good moments — just like The 1975. Sometimes, “Loving Someone,” or even something, means loving all of their flaws as well.
Any native will tell you that there are more than a few places that you do not visit after dark and to keep your doors locked at all times. Honestly, there are several The 1975 songs that you simply cannot visit after dark or, better yet, never touch at all. For example, the entire album “Notes On A Conditional Form” is unknown and not a fan favorite, but listeners recognize that one great hit, probably “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know),” like some would say of Centennial Olympic Park. Amid chaos and contention, at least there is a Ferris wheel.
No one could mention Atlanta without speaking about the horrendous traffic. It is all stop-and-go throughout its entire 136 square miles, similar to The 1975’s diverse and questionable discography. There is always “Roadkill.” There is always a delay. Right when I am beginning to like Atlanta, I find myself having “A Change Of Heart.”
Truly, The 1975 is one of my favorite bands and remains quintessential of my teenage years. Nonetheless, there is an amusing parallel to draw between the band and one of my most frequented cities. Perhaps it is personal, or maybe “Somebody Else” also feels the same.
