Las Vegas Mixtape v3: Freewheeling In Vegas: Shows, Eateries, Movie Theaters, and a Mind-Altering Museum

Track #5: Life Is Beautiful, downtown, The 1975

The 1975 is an unabashed U.K. pop band in rock star clothes (all black) with moody lighting and a captivating lead singer (Matty Healy) who name-checks Kafka and Joy Division onstage. They had an important Saturday night slot at the three-day, world-class Life Is Beautiful festival, which debuted in 2013, the same year The 1975 released their debut album.

“We’re the band you love to hate,” teased Healy in their set. Unafraid to take on any taste-making guardians, he sang part of the Backstreet Boys’ classic “I Want It That Way.” The crowd loudly hollered its approval.

Ear candy can be its own reward—and no one knows this better than the globally successful foursome whose set featured an expanded line-up. Smash hits like “Somebody Else,” “It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You”), and “I’m In Love With You” are built on bouncy rhythms, clean guitar lines, and sparkling keyboards that bring to mind the ‘80s sounds of British bands like Culture Club and Haircut 100. Healy’s sweet vocal tones deliver catchy melodies and easy-to-miss lyrical curveballs; the exquisitely arranged vocal harmonies wrap the sound up with a bow. The 1975 owned the crowd from start to finish.