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The 1975 manage to shake off the boy band label despite massive Texas venue

The 1975 concert in Irving Thursday night started off in a very different direction than expected.

Amid elated fans and shrill shrieks, the electro-pop band was playing its opening track, "Give Yourself A Try," at the Toyota Music Factory, with two dancers and a front man sporting a cowboy hat and a vintage-chic suit. While the song blends the synthesized coolness of the '80s with Matty Healy's gliding vocals, the show felt sugary and manufactured at first. It was as if this was the hottest boy band and we were seeing their biggest tour unfold. 

Thankfully, the delicate airiness of "A Change Of Heart" grounded the stoked crowd and shifted the focus to the music instead of Healy's silly dance moves. Something that's always set this band apart is the fact that even though many of their songs feel light and carefree, their narratives are usually quite the opposite.

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Matt Healy, lead singer of The 1975, performs at the Toyota Music Factory in Irving on...
Matt Healy, lead singer of The 1975, performs at the Toyota Music Factory in Irving on Thursday, May 2, 2019. (Rex C Curry / Special Contributor)
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The British band has always focused on darker topics in their six-year career, writing about everything from heroin use to death and gun violence. Authenticity is at the forefront of pop culture, and the fact that everything is so accessible now has helped The 1975. Their rawness and avoidance of anything artificial or expectedly mainstream has somehow built a platform for the band and dramatically increased their popularity over the last few years, which was clear by the size of the venue and Thursday night's audience.

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Despite the contradictory atmosphere, The 1975 inched closer to their underdog persona and didn't stray from the skills that got them to this point. Instead of phoning it in and pandering to the fawning crowd, they strapped on guitars and played their mellow, effervescent music note by note. Healy landed every white-knuckled note with ease, making their wordy songs seem effortless and instinctive.

Fans kept up with the verbose tracks and sang with Healy, even in deeper cuts like "Robbers" and "I Couldn't Be More in Love," showing they've been along for the ride and have been paying attention at every turn. This unyielding devotion proved that the era of charming boy bands has shifted. The 1975, with their slick riffs and synth-heavy style, are in their own lane and won't be slowing down anytime soon.

Matt Healy, center, lead singer of The 1975 performs at the Toyota Music Factory in Irving...
Matt Healy, center, lead singer of The 1975 performs at the Toyota Music Factory in Irving on Thursday, May 2, 2019. (Rex C Curry / Special Contributor)
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Even the stage was spectacularly different. The neon lights from the glowing rectangular walls matched their '80s-inspired sound and brought just the right amount of production to the stage. With few instrument changes or shifts, the guys maintained their posts and let Healy lead the way. His charismatic fervor and mirthful persona filled in the gaps nicely, but didn't overshadow their music or the band as a whole.

Healy's punchy vocals soared in the bright and anthemic song "Love It If We Made It," one of many of their 2018 singles that showcase their interestingly dismal optimism. The happy-go-lucky vibes of "Chocolate" came directly after and showed how far The 1975 has come over the last five years. Their growth and progression have made this group wildly successful and built a respectable brand both indie and pop fans can be proud of.

Big venue or not, The 1975 know who they are and what they want to be. If sitting amid a frisky crowd is what it takes to experience their performance, then the price is worth the payoff.