Friday, Nov. 6, the Orpheum Theater hosted the most visually and audibly charming performance I’ve ever seen. Wildling opened for Young the Giant and one word to describe the entire night was blissful. If you’re into newer bands, Wildling exudes an adventurous vibe, making me want to trek across the country with the band providing the soundtrack for my travels. This up-and-coming band writes very personal lyrics with noticeable heart behind every word. I am excited to hear what they’ll release on their upcoming crowd-funded EP later this year.
I’ve been to quite a few shows at the Orpheum with superb lighting, but something was different about what Young the Giant chose. The lead singer, Sameer Gadhia, stood center stage with the lights illuminated around him, and gold, blue and purple lights cascaded onto the members in the back. They had a screen of pixie lights lining the entire backdrop, making it appear as if the band was floating in space and hovering on stage. The concert opened with the members as just silhouettes and that was what first caught my attention. Maybe it was because I was standing at the back of the mosh pit, but I was able to experience this concert like never before and I left the venue thinking about how radiant the concert appeared.
Young the Giant played songs from their 2014 album Mind Over Matter and more popular singles from their album Young the Giant. Considering this tour wasn’t specifically for a release of a new album, I was really happy that they mixed in both old and new songs. With everyone dancing and singing along to the lyrics, it gave off the feeling that we were all enthusiastic fans of the group. If someone has never heard of Young the Giant, they are musically very similar to Fitz and The Tantrums, Foster The People and Cold War Kids. It was cool to see that, while a lot of their songs have been out for over four years, they still held significant meaning to the crowd.
I was very surprised when they dropped their most popular song, “Cough Syrup,” in the middle of their show. But then it was funny to watch as a few couples departed right after it was performed. In fact, I think it’s a brilliant technique to make sure only your true supporters stay for the encore, and what an encore it was. Of the three songs they performed, everyone was cheering for “My Body,” which they saved for the final closer. I was very pleased with this concert from beginning to end. The Orpheum has an amazing stage and I am on the lookout for when Young the Giant comes back to town.
