‘Sex,’ ‘Girls’ & ‘Chocolate’: The 1975 Rock The Paramount in Huntington [Review]
Sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York Four starry-eyed British musicians. An illuminated New York stage. Countless screaming American girls.Beatlemania? Not exactly.The 1975.Fans packed The Paramount in Huntington Dec. 9, 2014 to witness British rockers The 1975. (Photo by Kafel Benn / Long Island Press)The English indie pop-punk rockers took The Paramount in Huntington by storm Tuesday, December 9th, delivering a fiery, emotional set to a sold-out sea of rabid fans who shrieked and danced and rejoiced along throughout the entire performance.The band’s popularity was apparent way before they even walked onstage—with a line of excited ticketholders stretching from the venue’s entrance south, down New York Avenue, and wrapping around the corner of East Carver Street, the next block away. Ranging in age from what looked like teenagers to those in their 40s and 50s, the concertgoers were predominately dressed head-to-toe in black, but also sported flannels, high heels and combat boots. There were a whole lotta tattoos, too.One ambitious fan, Stephanie, of Seaford, donned a homemade T-shirt proclaiming: “DIBS ON THE LEAD SINGER.” With recent rumors of The 1975 lead singer Matt Healy and pop sensation Taylor Swift becoming extra-friendly in the last few weeks, of course her shirt begged the question: “Should Taylor Swift be worried?”I’d say so.The 1975’s lead singer (and pop sensation Taylor Swift’s rumored sweetheart) Matt Healy wowed a packed audience at The Paramount in Huntington on Dec. 9, 2014. (Photo by Kafel Benn / Long Island Press)Inside, the blinding stage lights allowed for the majority of the band to join their instruments seemingly undetected. First, drummer George Daniel appeared—his bass drum shaking the venue like a blast of thunder on a warm summer evening. Next, Ross MacDonald grabbed his bass guitar and the applause grew louder, rising again when Adam Hann picked up his guitar and gave it a strum. Then, as the stage lights dimmed and the spotlights intensified, Healy finally poked his head out from behind a curtain and walked toward the lead mic. His presence elevated the crowd to an all-time frenzied high, the girls shrieking to supersonic levels. The Paramount itself seemed to sway with each step he took closer to the mic. Dressed completely in white, the 25-year-old literally and figuratively radiated a larger-than-life aura to an accepting crowd of shadows.With the last of the four-man band complete, total domination ensued.The 1975 possess a somewhat unique, if recognizable, sound, meshing elements of ‘80s synth-pop, electronica and radio rock with catchy guitars and lyrics about, well, “Sex,” “Girls” and “Chocolate,” among other topics, including drugs, relationships and teenage drama. (Healy told NPR he constantly has “a tiny John Hughes movie” in his head while writing.) Bands they’ve been compared to include fellow British groups Duran Duran, UB40 and Bastille. Aesthetically The 1975 looked classic rock and roll stripped of all the bells and whistles of frilly cloths or decorated mic stands, though Healy pranced around the stage like Mick Jagger or Freddie Mercury.When he sang the lines to “Settle Down,” the black lipstick in the crowd synced precisely. “She Way Out” was also a tremendous hit with the audience; in this new age of concerts waving devil-horned hands, fists and lighters were replaced by smart phones hovering above the crowd with the record buttons clearly on.The 1975 took The Paramount in Huntington by storm on Dec. 9, 2014. (Photo by Kafel Benn / Long Island Press)The 1975 played for nearly two hours, with two encores for the crowd. Considering the band is lesser-known than others in their genre, it was surprising to see every seat in the house sold-out, yet not a single person actually sitting. The rhythmic sound and overall good-feeling vibe of The 1975 had the crowd dancing throughout the show to fan favorites, such as “Sex,” which transformed the whole place into one giant Goth-punk sing-a-long. They ended their set with the catchy “Girls,” one of their better-known songs. The audience was thrilled. When they came back out and played “Chocolate” everyone really got into it—at Healy’s request, everyone holding hands for the entirety of the song. This is what The 1975 closed their show with. They tossed “keepsakes” into the audience as they left the stage, everything from guitar picks, drum sticks, empty water bottles and set lists to a sweaty T-shirt; all showering down on a very eager crowd.With the Brit-pop storm that is The 1975 finally subsiding for the night, hundreds poured out of the theater and back into downtown Huntington—satisfied, at least for now.For more insane gigs at The Paramount, check out their page in The Island Ear!The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. paramountny.com
Developer Pradella has started construction on the first stage of a $125 million dual tower community centred around the city’s iconic SkyNeedle.CONSTRUCTION on the first stage of South Brisbane’s dual tower $125 million SkyNeedle project has kicked off, centred around the city’s iconic Sky Needle.SkyNeedle, an 88 metre pillar, was a key feature of Brisbane’s World Expo in 1988, and remains a prominent marker on the city skyline.Last Thursday, Pradella director Kim Pradella joined Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk to officially launch the start of construction on the first tower, comprising 110 of the total 237 apartments in the project, which will incorporate a refurbished SkyNeedle as part of its design.SkyNeedle in South Brisbane.More from newsMould, age, not enough to stop 17 bidders fighting for this home4 hours agoBuyers ‘crazy’ not to take govt freebies, says 28-yr-old investor4 hours agoPradella has appointed RCC Builders to build SkyNeedle Apartments. The two-stage project will be complete with a cafe at the base of the second tower and a tropical garden oasis with a pool and barbecue terrace for the exclusive use of residents.More than 70 per cent of apartments in the first stage have already sold for a total of $38 million, with remaining one-bedroom apartments priced from $428,000 and two-bedroom abodes available from $544,000.“Brisbane is evolving into a new world city and it’s important that as we usher in this next chapter of growth, we recognise the foundations this fantastic city was built on by preserving monuments of the past, like the SkyNeedle and the old gas and light station,” Mr Pradella said.“SkyNeedle has already attracted strong interest from both owner occupiers and investors not only from Brisbane, but also nationally and internationally, who are ready to be a part of what will undoubtedly be one of Australia’s most unique and identifiable addresses.”Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the SkyNeedle had been a much-loved icon of Brisbane for nearly 30 years and it was exciting to see it returning to its true home in South Brisbane to be restored to its former glory as part of a high-quality residential project.
Stuff co.nz 22 August 2016Family First Comment: A superb read. “The NZ Drug Foundation has steadily become a strident proponent for law reform, to the point that they now sound more like glorified pushers, campaigning for “the removal of criminal penalties for drug use, possession and social supply.””Exactly! If a referendum was held on legalising cannabis for personal use, would you support it? You’d have to be off your scone.The New Zealand Drug Foundation (NZDF) has been crowing about the results of its self-selecting poll, indicating broad public support for decriminalising cannabis for personal use.The NZDF has steadily become a strident proponent for law reform, to the point that they now sound more like glorified pushers, campaigning for “the removal of criminal penalties for drug use, possession and social supply.”Prime John Key deserves credit for doubling down and refusing to budge.As does the Labour Party, despite momentarily flirting with the notion of a referendum recently.Unsurprisingly, the Green Party, which has long been over-populated by potheads, is itching for grow-your-own personal supply to be legalised.According to the United Nations, New Zealand has one of the highest rates of cannabis users in the world, with 9-14 per cent of Kiwis routinely getting wasted, four times the global average.The NZDF argues it’s a complete waste of “hundreds of thousands of police hours” trying to enforce the law, criminalising and imprisoning Kiwis for low-level possession.Just because tens of thousands of Kiwis choose to smoke dope in defiance of the law, is not a compelling reason to legitimatise their lifestyle. Forty-two per cent of front line police officer hours are consumed on dealing to family violence.If you apply the extreme, absurd and self-serving logic of the legalise lobby, the police should surrender to family violence too, because so many Kiwis are indulging in this sick and twisted national sport.Ditto for child abuse, tax evasion, drink-driving, shop-lifting, or any other social scourge you care to name.Two per cent of Kiwis have graduated from the gateway drug of cannabis to become meth-heads. Should we adopt a similarly defeatist attitude to methamphetamine’s legal status too?Clearly, more focus is rightly being placed on not just treating illicit drug use as a criminal issue, but a health issue.According to Treasury, only 6 per cent of cannabis users are collared by the police. The overwhelming majority of those who are sprung for possession, aren’t imprisoned.The police have increasingly adopted are far pragmatic approach, deploying pre-charge warnings and diversion instead. But recidivist and unrepentant users are convicted. The police don’t actively target low-level cannabis users.Being charged for possession generally only comes about as a consequence of being arrested for higher-level offending, like burglary.The other great myth peddled by the legalisation lobby is that cannabis use is a victimless crime.As the National Committee for Addiction Treatment points out, 55 per cent of our prison inmates are cannabis dependent. It fuels crime.And we’re all paying the price for cannabis dependence through its devastating impact on mental health.Is it really just a coincidence that Northland, our cannabis capital, also has one of the world’s highest rates of schizophrenia?The insidious prevalence of cannabis-induced schizophrenia, psychosis, depression and anxiety is undeniable. As is slothfulness.Of the 200,000 working-age and able bodied Kiwis drawing a benefit, what proportion would rather have a joint, than a job?Never before, have we had more taxpayer-funded treatment service providers. But only the individual can summon the will to start transforming their life. They need to be vigorously encouraged to take those steps.Globally, it’s been a long-established ploy by the likes of NORML (the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) to cynically hitch medical marijuana to the same wagon as recreational drug use, to soften up the public to complete capitulation.Liberalising the law to help terminal patients in pain access products like Sativex is one thing. But rolling over on recreational drug use is not in the public interest.http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/83410482/Mike-Yardley-Legalising-cannabis-not-in-the-public-interest