At Their Very Best Explained

Concert Tour Name:At Their Very Best
Artist:The 1975
Type:World
Album:Being Funny in a Foreign Language
Number Of Legs:7
Number Of Shows:93
Last Tour:Music for Cars
(2018–2020)
This Tour:At Their Very Best
(2022–2023)
Next Tour:Still... At Their Very Best
(2023–2024)

At Their Very Best was the fourth concert tour by English indie art pop band the 1975 in support of their fifth studio album Being Funny in a Foreign Language (2022). It had a total of seven legs with 93 cumulative shows across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

Written and directed by frontman Matty Healy,[1] the show received unanimous critical acclaim, with praise on the concept, production, boundary-pushing staging, and Healy's performance. Rolling Stone declared it as "a defining blueprint on how to do arena shows" and "the most impressive live show" of 2022.[2] A follow-up tour, with newly expanded production, commenced in arenas in North America in 2023 titled Still... At Their Very Best.[3]

Background

The band was set to embark on the 2021 shows of Music for Cars tour but ultimately cancelled the entire tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they have confirmed that they have been working on their fifth studio album.[4] On 29 June 2022, the band announced the album titled Being Funny in a Foreign Language, releasing it on 14 October the same year.[5] [6]

The group announced the tour along with its North American dates on 3 August 2022.[7] It was followed by UK and Ireland tour dates, announced on 1 September 2022.[8]

On 13 February 2023, the group announced a headlining concert at the Finsbury Park, deemed as their "biggest UK headline show ever".[9]

Concert synopsis

The show was written and directed by frontman Healy. The set, modeled after the interior of a suburban home, was designed by the band's frequent collaborator Tobias Rylander, and is adorned with antique furniture, bedside lamps, and old televisions embedded with LED screens to display concert visuals. On one end of the stage is a large spiral staircase, while the other end is covered by a roof atop which Healy performs the song "I Like America and America Likes Me". At the center of the stage is a large door frame that evokes the rectangle symbol present across the cover art for the band's early discography. The set is also surrounded by windowsills through which more stage lights are projected, as well as a large streetlamp that hangs over the roof of the house. Rylander cited Stanley Kubrick as an inspiration for the set, aiming to create a contrast between the "cozy" suburban backdrop and the darker undertones of Healy's performance onstage.[10] [11] [12]

The show is split into two parts: the first half (The 1975 Presents: Being Funny in a Foreign Language) was characterized by The Observer as "part performance art, part stage play, part Charlie Kaufman movie about a rock star in crisis," and the second half (At Their Very Best) as a traditional concert that incorporates more of the band's past discography.[13]

The two halves were separated by an interlude titled "Consumption" where Healy depicts masturbation, eats a raw steak, and delivers 20 press-ups in immediate succession in front of television screens showing news clips, which he then appears to climb into.[14] [15] In the US leg of the tour, Healy got a tattoo on stage that read "iM a MaN".[16] Healy has also invited both male and female members of his audience to kiss him during his performance of the song "Robbers" and, on one occasion, sucked a fan's thumb.[17] [18] The Guardian said it sparked conversations regarding consent, fantasy and art in 2022, and noted that Healy asked for fans' permission first.

Set list

This set list is representative of the show on 8 January 2023 in Brighton, England. It does not represent all dates throughout the tour.[19]

  1. "The 1975" (Being Funny in a Foreign Language)
  2. "Looking for Somebody (To Love)"
  3. "Happiness"
  4. "Part of the Band"
  5. "'Oh Caroline"
  6. "I'm in Love with You"
  7. "All I Need to Hear"
  8. "Roadkill"
  9. "I Couldn't Be More in Love"
  10. "Fallingforyou"
  11. "I Like America & America Likes Me"
  12. "About You"
  13. "When We Are Together"
  14. "If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)
  15. "TooTimeTooTimeTooTime"
  16. "Chocolate"
  17. "It's Not Living (If It's Not with You)"
  18. "Paris"
  19. "Robbers"
  20. "Somebody Else"
  21. "Love It If We Made It"
  22. "The Sound"
  23. "Sex"
  24. "Give Yourself a Try"

Special guests

Reception

The show received unanimous critical acclaim with five star reviews from the Rolling Stone, NME,[25] The Observer,[26] The Telegraph,[27] Evening Standard,[28] and Metro,[29] among others. Rolling Stone declared it as "a defining blueprint on how to do arena shows" and "the most impressive live show" of 2022, with the Evening Standard declaring the 1975 as "the most compelling pop band on the planet".[30]

Clips from the show went viral on TikTok and other social media platforms, prompting wide media coverage of his onstage actions.[31] [32] [33] In Rolling Stone's review of the performance, the magazine stated that Healy delivered "a subversive and surreal take on modern masculinity [that] when viewed in isolation on social media, that all-importance nuance is entirely absent."[34]

On 21 July 2023, while performing in Malaysia, the organisers of the Good Vibes Festival forced the band to prematurely end their performance under pressure by the authorities after Healy criticised the country's widespread anti-LGBTQ+ laws and kissed fellow bandmate Ross MacDonald. Healy stated that he "made a mistake. When we were booking shows, I wasn't looking into it. [...] So I pulled the show yesterday and we had a conversation, we said 'you know what, we can't let the kids down because they're not the government'".[35] [36] Malaysian authorities forced the organisers to immediately halt and cancelled the rest of the three-day festival citing that Healy's "controversial conduct and remarks" are "against the traditions and values of the local culture".[37] Human rights and LGBT activist Peter Tatchell, writing for The Guardian wrote that criticism of Healy and the band "deflect attention from where the criticisms should be most urgently directed: against the homophobia of the Kuala Lumpur regime." He also expressed that Healy is no white saviour for showing solidarity to the community as "queer rights are a universal human right, not a western one".[38] On 23 July 2023, the band announced the cancellation of their concerts in Jakarta and Taipei, citing "current circumstances" that made it "impossible to proceed with the scheduled shows".[39] Accordingly, this made Singapore the only stand-alone Asian stop for Leg 6.

Broadcast

The sold-out show at Madison Square Garden on 7 November 2022 was livestreamed globally on Twitch, presented by Amazon Music.[40] A live recording was released on Amazon Prime Video and premiered on 6 January 2023.[41]

Gallery

Photos taken on the tour's 14 December 2022 sold out show in Minnesota depicting a partial view of the stage design modified with Christmas lights.

Tour dates

Date! scope="col" style="width:10em;"
CityCountryVenueOpening acts
Leg 1 – North America[42]
3 November 2022UncasvilleUnited StatesMohegan Sun ArenaBlackstarkids
4 November 2022BostonMGM Music Hall at Fenway
5 November 2022
7 November 2022New York CityMadison Square Garden
9 November 2022CamdenFreedom Mortgage Pavilion
10 November 2022Washington, D.C.The Anthem
12 November 2022AtlantaState Farm Arena
13 November 2022NashvilleMunicipal Auditorium
15 November 2022Grand PrairieTexas Trust CU Theatre
16 November 2022Houston713 Music Hall
17 November 2022AustinMoody Center
20 November 2022Mexico CityMexicoAutódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
23 November 2022PhoenixUnited StatesArizona Financial TheatreBlackstarkids
25 November 2022ParadiseThe Theater at Virgin Hotels
26 November 2022San DiegoCalCoast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
28 November 2022InglewoodKia Forum
29 November 2022San FranciscoBill Graham Civic Auditorium
1 December 2022PortlandModa Center
2 December 2022SeattleWaMu Theater
4 December 2022Fort LauderdaleFort Lauderdale Beachrowspan="2"
6 December 2022DenverMission Ballroom
8 December 2022IndependenceCable Dahmer ArenaBlackstarkids
9 December 2022ChicagoByline Bank Aragon Ballroom
10 December 2022MilwaukeeThe Eagles Ballroom
12 December 2022TorontoCanadaScotiabank Arena
14 December 2022MinneapolisUnited StatesArmory
16 December 2022NewportMegaCorp Pavilion
17 December 2022Moon TownshipUPMC Events Center
Leg 2 – Europe
8 January 2023BrightonEnglandBrighton CentreBonnie Kemplay
9 January 2023BournemouthBournemouth International Centre
10 January 2023ExeterWestpoint Arena
12 January 2023LondonThe O2 Arena
13 January 2023
15 January 2023BirminghamResorts World Arena
16 January 2023CardiffWalesCardiff International Arena
17 January 2023
19 January 2023GlasgowScotlandOVO Hydro
20 January 2023ManchesterEnglandAO Arena
22 January 2023NottinghamMotorpoint Arena
23 January 2023LeedsFirst Direct Arena
25 January 2023NewcastleUtilita Arena
26 January 2023LiverpoolM&S Bank Arena
29 January 2023DublinIreland3Arena
30 January 2023BelfastSSE Arena
Leg 3 – Latin America
18 March 2023San IsidroArgentinaHipódromo de San Isidrorowspan="8"
19 March 2023SantiagoChileO'Higgins Park
21 March 2023LuqueParaguayParque Olímpico
23 March 2023SopóColombiaCampo de Golf Briceño
25 March 2023São PauloBrazilAutódromo de Interlagos
29 March 2023GuadalajaraMexicoArena VFG
30 March 2023Mexico CityPalacio de los Deportes
1 April 2023MonterreyFundidora Park
Leg 4 – Asia-Pacific
4 April 2023Pak KretThailandIMPACT ArenaWallice
8 April 2023PerthAustraliaRed Hill Auditorium
10 April 2023AdelaideAEC Theatre
11 April 2023MelbourneRod Laver Arena
12 April 2023
14 April 2023SydneyAware Super Theatre
15 April 2023BrisbaneRiverstage
16 April 2023SydneyQudos Bank Arena
19 April 2023WellingtonNew ZealandTSB Bank Arena
21 April 2023AucklandSpark Arena
24 April 2023TokyoJapanTokyo Garden Theaterrowspan="7"
26 April 2023YokohamaPia Arena MM
27 April 2023
29 April 2023NagoyaAichi Sky Expo
30 April 2023OsakaOsaka-jō Hall
3 May 2023PasayPhilippinesSM Mall of Asia Arena
4 May 2023
Leg 5 – Europe
27 May 2023DundeeScotlandCamperdown Parkrowspan="4"
2 June 2023AarhusDenmarkEskelunden
3 June 2023WarsawPolandTor Wyścigów Konnych Służewiec
5 June 2023ViennaAustriaWiener Stadthalle
7 June 2023DublinIrelandSaint Anne's ParkMatty Healy
9 June 2023HilvarenbeekNetherlandsBeekse Bergenrowspan="3"
10 June 2023Hradec KrálovéCzechiaFestivalpark
11 June 2023ManchesterEnglandHeaton Park
13 June 2023CorkIrelandMusgrave ParkCaroline Polachek
15 June 2023OsloNorwaySofienberg Parkrowspan="7"
16 June 2023Neuhausen ob EckGermanyTake-off Gewerbepark
18 June 2023ScheeßelEichenring
23 June 2023LuxembourgChamp du Glacis
26 June 2023BucharestRomaniaArenele Romane
29 June 2023WerchterBelgiumFestivalpark
1 July 2023StockholmSwedenGärdet
2 July 2023LondonEnglandFinsbury ParkCigarettes After Sex
Bleachers
The Japanese House
American Football
Pretty Sick
The Life
6 July 2023MadridSpainVillaverderowspan="4"
9 July 2023GlasgowScotlandGlasgow Green
12 July 2023ParisFranceL'Olympia
14 July 2023LisbonPortugalPraia do Meco
Leg 6 – Asia
18 July 2023SingaporeSands Expo & Convention Centrerowspan="3"
19 July 2023
21 July 2023SepangMalaysiaSepang International Circuit
Leg 7 – North America
4 August 2023ChicagoUnited StatesGrant Parkrowspan="6"
6 August 2023HonoluluWaikiki Shell
13 August 2023San FranciscoGolden Gate Park

Selected box office score data

Venue! scope="col" style="width:10em;"
CityAttendanceRevenue
Madison Square GardenNew York City12,947 / 12,947$1,051,011
Freedom Mortgage PavilionCamden7,336 / 7,336$424,180
The AnthemWashington, D.C.6,000 / 6,000$475,825
Nashville Municipal AuditoriumNashville7,038 / 7,038$414,703
Moody CenterAustin8,828 / 8,828$476,218
Arizona Financial TheatrePhoenix5,214 / 5,214$307,245
Kia ForumInglewood13,955 / 13,955$1,004,480
Bill Graham Civic AuditoriumSan Francisco8,622 / 8,622$619,644
Moda CenterPortland7,959 / 7,959$421,944
Scotiabank ArenaToronto14,257 / 14,257$1,013,943
Total92,156 / 92,156$6,209,193

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shanfeld . Ethan . 2022-12-13 . The 1975's Matty Healy Lifts the Curtain on Band's Biggest Tour Yet (EXCLUSIVE) . 2023-06-14 . Variety . en-US.
  2. Web site: Reilly . Nick . 2023-01-09 . The 1975 live in Brighton: a game-changing arena show for the ages . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230512035145/https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/live-reviews/the-1975-live-in-brighton-a-game-changing-arena-show-for-the-ages-25605/ . 2023-05-12 . 2023-05-12 . Rolling Stone UK . en-GB.
  3. Web site: Shanfeld . Ethan . 2023-06-13 . The 1975 Announces North American Fall Tour . 2023-06-17 . Variety . en-US.
  4. Web site: The 1975 cancel entire 2021 tour – but confirm work on new album. NME. 12 January 2021. 22 March 2023. Nick. Reilly.
  5. Web site: The 1975 reveal title and tracklist for fifth album 'Being Funny In A Foreign Language'. NME. 29 June 2022. 22 March 2023. Will. Richards.
  6. Web site: The 1975 unveil their long-awaited fifth studio album 'Being Funny in a Foreign Language' — listen. Bandwagon Asia. 14 October 2022. 22 March 2023. Brandon. Raeburn.
  7. Web site: The 1975 Announce The 'At Their Very Best' North American Tour. Uproxx. 3 August 2022. 22 March 2023. Adrian. Spinelli.
  8. Web site: The 1975 announce huge arena tour for 2023. Radio X. 1 September 2022. 22 March 2023.
  9. Web site: The 1975 announce their biggest UK headline show ever. Louder Sound. 13 February 2023. 22 March 2023. Paul. Brannigan.
  10. Web site: 12 May 2023 . Intimate photos of The 1975 rehearsing 'At Their Very Best' . 2023-06-17 . Huck . en-GB.
  11. Web site: 2023-04-24 . Tobias Rylander Breaks Down The Process of Designing The 1975's World Tour . 2023-06-17 . Hypebeast.
  12. Web site: Reilly . Nick . 2023-02-27 . Go behind the scenes of The 1975's ambitious 'At Their Very Best' tour . 2023-06-17 . Rolling Stone UK . en-GB.
  13. Web site: Dork . 2023-01-12 . Here's everything you need to know about The 1975's At Their Very Best tour, from the band themselves . 2023-07-18 . Dork . en-US.
  14. Web site: Demopoulos . Alaina . 7 December 2022 . Creepy behavior or pop performance? 1975's Matty Healy reignites debate about onstage kissing . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230223143102/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/dec/06/the-1975-matty-healy-kissing-fans . 23 February 2023 . 14 April 2023 . The Guardian.
  15. Web site: 27 November 2022 . The 1975's Matty Healy Is Kissing Fans on Stage Again . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230417082410/https://www.papermag.com/matty-healy-kisses-fans-2658787550.html . 17 April 2023 . 17 April 2023 . Paper.
  16. Mier . Tomás . 2022-12-19 . First Raw Meat And Now a Tattoo: The 1975's Matt Healy Concert Antics Continue . 2023-05-30 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  17. Bowenbank . Starr . 9 January 2023 . Matty Healy Sucks on a Fan's Thumb During The 1975 Concert . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230415114818/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/matty-healy-sucks-thumb-during-1975-concert-1235195985/ . 15 April 2023 . 15 April 2023.
  18. Web site: Christie . Lyra . 2023-01-15 . Thumb sucking to eating raw steak: The 1975 at the Brighton Centre . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230115195148/https://www.varsity.co.uk/music/24787 . 2023-01-15 . 2023-05-12 . Varsity . en.
  19. Web site: The 1975's At Their Very Best 2023 UK & Ireland tour setlist in full. Official Charts Company. 9 January 2023. 22 March 2023. George. Griffiths.
  20. Web site: Phoebe Bridgers Makes Surprise Appearance at The 1975 Show to Sing "Milk": Watch. Consequence. 29 November 2022. 22 March 2023. Abby. Jones.
  21. Web site: Jack Antonoff makes surprise cameo at The 1975 show, plays acoustic Bleachers medley. NME. 1 December 2022. 22 March 2023. Ellie. Robinson.
  22. Taylor Swift Performs 'Anti-Hero' For First Time at the 1975 Show. Rolling Stone. 12 January 2023. 22 March 2023. Tomás. Mier.
  23. Web site: Watch Charli XCX perform during The 1975's Manchester homecoming gig. NME. 21 January 2023. 22 March 2023.
  24. Web site: Newcastle crowd go wild as The 1975 bring out Tim Healy and Harry Styles lookalike Lewis Capaldi. Newcastle World. 25 January 2023. 22 March 2023. Toby. Bryant.
  25. Web site: Campbell . Erica . 2022-11-08 . The 1975 live in New York City: a raw and raucous night at the Garden . 2023-06-05 . NME . en-GB.
  26. News: Lynskey . Dorian . 2023-01-14 . The 1975 review – Matty Healy and co don their full meta jackets . en-GB . The Observer . 2023-06-05 . 0029-7712.
  27. News: McCormick . Neil . 2023-01-09 . The 1975 live: part tortured Samuel Beckett musical, part Broadway extravaganza, all mesmerising . en-GB . The Telegraph . 2023-06-05 . 0307-1235.
  28. Web site: Samways . Gemma . 2023-01-13 . The 1975 at the O2 review: the most compelling pop band on the planet . 2023-06-05 . Evening Standard . en.
  29. Web site: Bennun . David . 2023-01-09 . The 1975 tour review: Ingenious staging for band that dragged rock into new era . 2023-06-05 . Metro . en.
  30. Web site: Samways . Gemma . 2023-01-13 . The 1975 at the O2 review: the most compelling pop band on the planet . 2023-09-23 . Evening Standard . en.
  31. Web site: Jennings . Rebecca . 2023-01-04 . Sleazeballs are hot again . 2023-06-02 . Vox . en.
  32. Tolentino . Jia . Jia Tolentino . 29 May 2023 . Who Is Matty Healy? . The New Yorker . 0028-792X . 29 May 2023.
  33. Web site: 2022-11-30 . Why is TikTok so obsessed with The 1975? . 2023-06-02 . TAG24 . en.
  34. Reilly . Nick . 9 January 2023 . The 1975 live in Brighton: a game-changing arena show for the ages . live . Rolling Stone UK . https://web.archive.org/web/20230512035145/https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/live-reviews/the-1975-live-in-brighton-a-game-changing-arena-show-for-the-ages-25605/ . 12 May 2023 . 12 May 2023.
  35. Web site: Murphy . Matt . 22 July 2023 . Matty Healy: 1975 show ended in Malaysia after singer attacks anti-LGBT laws . https://web.archive.org/web/20230722045539/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66275913 . 22 July 2023 . 22 July 2023 . BBC News.
  36. Kreps . Daniel . 21 July 2023 . The 1975's Set at Malaysia Festival Cut Short as Matty Healy Slams Anti-LGBTQ Laws . https://web.archive.org/web/20230722045538/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-1975-malaysia-festival-matty-healy-slams-anti-lgbtq-laws-1234793551/ . 22 July 2023 . 22 July 2023 . Rolling Stone.
  37. News: Reuters . 2023-07-22 . Malaysia Halts Music Festival After Kiss Between Bandmates Onstage . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-07-22 . 0362-4331.
  38. News: Tatchell . Peter . 2023-07-25 . Matty Healy is not a 'white saviour' for showing solidarity with Malaysia's LGBTQ+ people . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-07-26 . 0261-3077.
  39. News: Chinnuswamy . Yamini . 23 July 2023 . British band The 1975 cancel Indonesia, Taiwan gigs after Malaysian festival uproar . . 23 July 2023.
  40. Web site: Wilkes . Emma . 7 January 2023 . The 1975 'At Their Very Best' live from Madison Square Garden is on Amazon Prime . 22 March 2023 . NME.
  41. Web site: Renshaw . David . 24 October 2022 . The 1975 to stream Madison Square Garden concert on Amazon Music . 22 March 2023 . The Fader.
  42. Web site: Tour Dates . 22 March 2023 . The 1975.

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