The 1975 and The Neighbourhood Sell Out Union Transfer

Both “The 1975” and “The Neighbourhood” have been very buzz worthy bands as of late.

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On Tuesday, June 25th, they both rolled into Philly to play a sold-out show at Union Transfer (with a DJ keeping things moving before each band played).

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UK rockers, The 1975 masterfully blend a brooding rock sound with elements of R&B, pop, and a tinge of electronica. The quartet produces a undeniably catchy sound that practically forces the unabashed to dance and the more reserved to head bob along.

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Frontman Matt Healy simply has the “it” factor. His British charm, rock star swagger, and bold vocals draw the audience in close and hold them tight. With hits like “Chocolate” and “Sex” already under their belts, the sky is the limit for The 1975.

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We were already fans of their prior to checking them out live for the first time on Tuesday night and their performance stole the show and cemented their high standing in our current hierarchy of bands.

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After a bit of a break, during which many of the natives seemed to become a little bored and/or restless, the lights dimmed at The Neighbourhood hit the stage. We had just seen a snippet of their set over the weekend at Firefly Festival and were looking forward to see what they could do in a smaller venue with a headlining gig.

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Vocalist Jesse Rutherford and his band mates haven’t been on the scene very long but have built a strong following in a very short amount of time. They’ve released two EPs and dropped their debut LP “I Love You” this past April. After playing SXSW, Coachella, and Firefly, and headlining their current tour, they will head out on the road as support for Imagine Dragons later this summer.

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While we enjoyed The Neighbourhood’s set at Union Transfer, especially their hit “Sweater Weather” which hit #1 on the Billboard Alt Chart this month, their more mellow, laid back, California, cool as the other side of the pillow, style was a bit of a step back from the energy we felt during The 1975’s performance.

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Standing alone, we feel their set would have been better. It wasn’t disappointing as much as it was in strange juxtaposition to the set before it. We’ve often found that when the styles of touring bands are in contrast, with one being more upbeat than the other, that a build up in tempo from one act to the next is more to our liking.

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Clearly the majority of the audience didn’t seem to mind as their cheered along to every song, with several female fans shouting sweet nothings to Rutherford from the crowd.

Overall the show was fantastic and we enjoyed it from beginning to end.

[Photo credit: D. Jacob Miller Photography]

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