WBRU Dunkin’ Donuts Summer Concert Series Artist #3: The 1975

You could say that Matt Healy, lead singer and guitarist for the 1975, was born to rock. Both of his parents were connected to the 80’s U.K. music scene, and the young Brit spent his his young days boppin’ around punk rock clubs. After being booted out of private school for a particular protractor-throwing incident, Healy met up with fellow teen rascals Adam Hann, George Daniel, and Ross MacDonald. The four lads learned how to play instruments together and gradually grew into a band, covering punk songs in a local club. They underwent an identity crisis of sorts, changing names repeatedly over the years: the group has performed as Talkhouse, The Slowdown, Drive Like I Do, and B I G S L E E P. Healy finally found The 1975’s namesake in a suitably hipster fashion: leafing through a book of poetry given to him by a friend on a trip, he found its pages were covered in diary-like scribbles. The notes were dated ‘the 1st of June The 1975’, and from this the band took its name. The 1975 signed with indie label Dirty Hit in early 2012, and set to work cranking out near-ungodly amounts of music–entirely recorded and produced themselves, on a laptop in their apartment. The band released four EP’s in less than a year, and The 1975 are quick to clarify that their EP’s are none of the three track, throwaway B-side bullcrap that abound in the modern-day music world. In their minds, shorter doesn’t need to mean lower quality, and each of their EP’s prove that point, with a single and then 3 or 4 other tracks meant to deepen the song’s meaning and broaden the short play’s soundscape. The 1975’s self-titled debut is due out on September 9th (although the music was written before all the EPs were). You can preorder it on their kick-ass, stylish self-run website at the1975.com . In fact, the website is a point of pride for the band. In this day and age, Healy and his bandmates are very conscious of the fact that up and coming bands depend on, and thrive from, the internet. In good form, they made themselves a website that is “F**king awesome”. It’s got lots of cool pictures, videos, free stuff and more… you should probably check it out right now. The 1975 have graduated from playing covers at the local pub to headlining tours across the world. Recently, they supported Muse on their 2nd Law tour. Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity to see a rocking band already making waves in the UK; last time that happened I’m pretty sure the product was The Beatles. Friday evening at 7:00–be there at Waterplace Park. Looking to be in the 70’s and sunny, so bring your sunhats and flip flops. See you there! Check out the 1975 with ‘Chocolate’ below: