The 1975

Cycle through the threatening drizzle to Simon and Jules' and after a natter and G&T we bus down to the Academy. Straight in as it's been open and while and catch the last couple of songs of Swim Deep who are very average. That's being kind but as they are totally inoffensive I can't really rail against their bland poppiness. I often write about age differences at gigs but I honestly didn't see anyone within 2 decades of my age tonight including bouncers and bar staff. Not sure if that's a good or band sign but if bands are good you usually get a few old grizzlies turn up to watch. Given that human heights increase each generation and the fact that most guys were shorter than myself I have to conclude that 90 of the audience were awaiting further growth spurts. There is a long wait whilst the stage is set up and we're starting to get a bit impatient then the filler music stops and the lights dim before masses of dry ice is pumped onto the stage from the wings. The lighting is impressive as mainly from the back of the stage showing the band in silhouette when you can see them through the smoke. As the place fills with smoke the back lighting is impressive as we get that sort of lined bright white lights creating stripes through the smoke which is brilliant for putting your hand through for great effects for those behind. Very impressive and reminiscent of psychedelic shows.

Unfortunately we are a long way from any psychedelicness from the band who churn out bland boppy 1980s indie fare with a singer who sounds straight out of X Factor i.e. competent but extremely bland. I'd seen them on the telly when I thought they were pretty good for the one song and was hoping that their album that I listened to earlier in the day didn't showcase a more energetic live show. Disappointed I'm afraid. To be fair when the singer wasn't singing they didn't sound too band and the end to each song was much better as they seemed to noodle off into a more rocky or funky groove. The kids seemed to enjoy it in an understated way in that there was a bit of hand waving for some of the more anthem-like tunes which to be honest were their worst and some people were dancing about a bit. To be fair we bopped a bit ourselves but more to keep our limbs supple than because the music was compelling. I like my comparisons so, if you're old enough which my readers generally are, they were a bit like The Thompson Twins boppiness, Orange Juice bassy funkiness (at the end of songs) and U2 when they went downhill and pompous. But don't go see them as they are very loose comparisons and not a recommendation as I quite like the TTs at the time and OJ were ace. By the end of the encore (we stayed til the bitter end hoping for some excitement) a lot of the crowd had gone (curfews I assume) and then we squeeze out into the definite drizzle to bus back up Brixton Hill where after a whiskey against the cold and an examination of the bottom of Simon's garden (shed discussions) I cycle home. My mate Ramsay texted me as I'm writing saying "they were shit weren't they". They have the balls to get on stage and have got on pretty well over the last year and seem a band of the moment so I can't really say that they were shit. But they were.