The 1975 - 'Still…at their very best’ at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham

Hanging high above the 1975 and their elaborate stage set-up at Resorts World Arena was a neon sign that read, ‘Still…at their very best’.

And, truth be told, it’s pretty hard to disagree with them.

The art pop-rockers were in town last night on the final date of their UK tour – having kicked off their ‘At Their Very Best Tour’ way back in 2022 in support of their latest album, Being Funny In A Foreign Language.

Fronted by Matty Healy, The 1975 took fans on a career spanning set, split into multiple parts.

The first, saw them play the bulk of their latest album with the latter, a joyous run through of their biggest hits.

Bridging each half was a monologue from Healy on consumption which cumulated with him crawling through a TV screen. More on that later!

Joining The 1975 were sax infused guitar pop five-piece The Japanese House who did a solid job warming up the already full arena with tracks including Friends, Morning Pages and Sunshine Baby.

When the giant black curtain shielding the Resorts World stage eventually dropped for the headliners, it revealed one of the most elaborate and unique stage setups you’ll probably see this year.

One by one, members of The 1975 walked out and took their positions inside a two-storey deconstructed house.

Turning on lamps as they arrived, the stage was filled with chairs, sofas, tables, a bookcase, walls, doors and televisions – everything you’d find inside a typical house.

There’s also a spiral staircase and street lights hanging over half of a roof – which Healy later climbed up and sat on for one track.

The 1975 were quite literally our ‘house band’ for the night - and everyone was invited inside.

However, all these homely items were far from just stage props.

As the band played through the bulk of Being Funny In A Foreign Language, members would play out little scenes, pouring each other drinks and interacting.

And, when he wasn’t behind a piano or standing at a mic, Healy would roam around the stage - cigarette and hipflask in hand – occasionally opting to lie down on a sofa, or huddle up with band mates around a table.

Surprisingly, none of the theatrics really distracted from the art-pop qualities of the first half of the show with highlights including Oh Caroline, I’m In Love With You and About You – the latter which finally got everyone sitting around the arena onto their feet.

There were also cheers for Healy’s dad, Tim Healy, who joined the band on stage to sing All I Need To Hear.

To bridge both halves of the show, Healy junior was left on stage for a segment he described as a cautionary tale about consumption.

Addressing the Birmingham crowd, he revealed the band is working on a new record and played a snippet of one track from his phone through his microphone.

Then, things took a bit of a stranger turn. Healy turned his back on the crowd to face a wall of TVs, which were cycling through news reports featuring himself, King Charles, David Cameron, Oppenheimer, the ongoing conflict in Gaza, RMT industrial action and the death of Matthew Perry.

Then, he climbed through one and disappeared.

Leaving the stage empty, Healy reappeared on top of a ‘grass covered’ stage in the middle of Resorts World Arena, to perform I Like America & America Likes Me, while circling a naked model of himself which was lying down.

The pair were then lowered out of sight and while Healy returned to the main stage, singer and guitarist Polly Money led other band members through Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America.

The second half of the show was a simpler, much more guitar driven affair, showcasing some of the band’s biggest hits from throughout their career.

With much of the furniture now removed from the stage, the band powered through hits including It’s Not Living, Somebody Else and Love If We Made it while fans sang along with every word.

The 1975 ended with Sex from their 2013 self-titled debut and People from 2020’s Notes On A Conditional Form.

As a frontman, there’s something uniquely captivating about Healy and as part of The 1975, it’s easy to see why the band is held in such high regard to a generation of fans – some of who camped through the night to be in the front rows in Birmingham.

If their headline set at Resorts World is anything to go by, the same level of admiration is awaiting the band as they head to mainland Europe.

The 1975 Played:

The 1975 (BFIAFL)

Looking for Somebody (to Love)

Happiness

Part of the Band

Oh Caroline

I'm in Love With You

A Change of Heart

Robbers

So Far (It's Alright)

All I Need To Her (featuring Tim Healy)

fallingforyou

About You

When We Are Together

I Like America & America Likes Me (On B-stage)

Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America (Polly Money on vocals)

If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)

TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME

It's Not Living (If It's Not With You)

The Sound

Give Yourself A Try

Somebody Else

I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)

Love It If We Made It

Sex

People