Verdict: Four stars.
The anticipation of The 1975 gig in Glasgow has never been higher.
The band have dominated TikTok in recent weeks with snippets from their At Their Very Best tour, which took them around the US and UK, teasing fans on what to expect.
And when they finally arrived on stage at Glasgow’s Hydro, those fans were desperate for the magical Matty Healy moments which have gone viral.
And boy did he deliver a performance.
Guitarist Adam Hann, bassist Ross MacDonald and drummer George Daniel arrived on a cinematic set of a living room before Matty casually drawing a cigarette took the spotlight.
Taking swigs from what appeared to be a bottle of wine, he took on the role of the tortured rock'n’roll star to belt out Oh Caroline and I’m In Love With You.
Admitting he was struggling, he continued his on-stage demise with the haunting About You taken from latest album Being Funny in a Foreign Language.
And as the band left the stage one hour in, Matty in a moment of reflection - which involved him eating raw meat - was reborn as the charismatic star that makes him worthy of frontman status today.
Lifting up the atmosphere instantly with this transformation, he showed what The 1975 are like "at their very best" as he paid tribute to Glasgow rockers The Blue Nile declaring them a favourite band, and told the city audience that Scotland should be independent.
@glasgow_times Matty Healy of The 1975 tells Glasgow Hydro crowd: ‘Scotland should be independent’. #1975concert #mattyhealy1975 #1975 #hydro #glasgow #tiktok #fyp #scottishtiktok #glasgowtiktok ♬ original sound - Glasgow Times
Chocolate and It’s Not Living (If It's Not With You) followed after he reminisced with fans about one of the band’s earliest shows which was in King Tut’s in 2006 when he “wore shorts”.
That was then and this is now when the band can command a sold-out show at the city’s biggest music venue.
More than two decades in, after forming at school, The 1975 are at the top of their game. And there is no doubt those humble beginnings and that history has allowed a natural on-stage chemistry with musicianship which is flawless, creating a sound that is entirely unique.
The 1975 know how to put on a show captivating the audience from start to finish, theatrics aside.
While the first half appeared to be confusing to a newcomer (like me), the second half converted me into a fan.
The Sound was a complete highlight as the fans took the roof off the Hydro with their energy before Give Yourself A Try completed proceedings.
Next up, The 1975 are headlining TRNSMT in the summer, and hopefully, it’s at their very best.
