Excitement was high on Friday night as fans packed Ruoff in anticipation of seeing English electronic-rock band Glass Animals. Many fans were dressed in space-themed outfits–everything from cosmic-print clothing to full-on alien costumes–to meet the theme of the evening and the band’s newest album, “I LOVE YOU SO F***CKING MUCH.”
Rapper Kevin Abstract opened for the band after a DJ hyped up the crowd by playing The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” a well known alternative rock song which had the crowd even more excited for the show to come.
Kevin Abstract put on a great performance, rapping along to electronic beats that certainly fit the vibe for the evening. His set wasn’t long but he spent much of it in the pit, surrounded by grinning fans as he sang and rapped and raised the energy in the venue. He told the origin story of his former boy band and rap group ‘Brockhampton,’ founded after finally making friends as a lonely teenager. He expressed sadness that his fellow bandmates were not there with him then, but went on to play several of the band’s songs.
Towards the end of his set, Kevin Abstract addressed a fan at the barrier and learned that they had traveled all the way from California specifically to follow his set. He gave them a hug and warmed the hearts of everyone watching.
Shortly after his set, the stage was set with a huge curtain displaying the name of the new album and the tour, “I LOVE YOU SO F***CKING MUCH.” When the band finally came out, the curtain dropped and revealed an insane stage set-up, themed to look like the inside of an alien spacecraft with flashing lights, monitors, and an overall sci-fi feel.
Glass Animals opened with a song from the new album, “Whatthehellishappening?” and singer Dave Bayley expressed delight when many in the crowd knew the words despite the album only being a month old. They then went into “Life Itself,” the opening track from an older album, “How To Be a Human Being.”
The pavilion and lawn were both filled with chaotic energy as fans sang and danced along with the band, many seemingly thrilled by the epic stage design and the ever-changing graphics flashing on the screen behind the band members. People in the pit were holding homemade signs and handing out friendship bracelets to share in the joy of getting to experience this band live.
Glass Animals played several of their biggest hits including “Space Ghost Coast to Coast” and “Gooey,” the latter of which was performed from the lawn as Bayley made his way back to give a close-up experience to those farther from the stage. They played a good mix of old and new songs, the highlights from the new album being “Creatures in Heaven” and “Show Pony.”
For one of the most popular singles from the new album, “A Tear In Space (Airlock),” the band only got a short bit of the way in before Bayley called for medical attention for somebody in the pit. It was stunning how quickly the music stopped and the lights came on as venue medics rushed to help the person. Bayley vamped with the crowd in the meantime and thanked everyone for their patience, ensuring that everybody was okay before starting the song from the beginning.
Towards the end of the show, they had an extended intro into hit song “Tokyo Drifting” before concluding with “Pork Soda,” showing the range in their catalog as they played a good variety of songs from each album. The band left the stage before coming out for the encore, where they played another two hits: “The Other Side of Paradise” from “How To Be a Human Being” and finally finishing with “Heat Waves” off of their 2020 pandemic album “Dreamland.”
Overall, it was an excellent show with an amazing stage display, genuine kindness and excitement from frontman Dave Bayley, and crowd energy that did not waver from the very moment that the DJ set everyone up with “Mr. Brightside.”