CONCERT REVIEW: Young the Giant and Some Great FRIENDS

This has already been a big year for Young the Giant. The indie rock band released their second album this spring, entitled Mind Over Matter. (Reviewed here upon release) They have since been thrusted back into life on the road, going on an extensive spring tour before being invited to open up for Kings of Leon all summer long. Their busy traveling led to a stop a Lollapalooza earlier this month, as well as an aftershow at House of Blues Chicago.

I purchased tickets for this aftershow immediately when it went on sale, as I was very intrigued. Rather than just listing 'Young the Giant' as the headliner, the tickets read "Young the Giant and Friends." I was very curious as to who the 'friends' would be on stage, since Young the Giant has already crossed paths with so many of my other favorites in their young career.

About two days before the show, it was announced that joining the 5 piece Californian band on stage, would be fellow rockers Manchester Orchestra, as well as close friends and former tour mates Grouplove! I had just seen Grouplove for their aftershow the previous night, so I knew the potential of this show. It did not disappoint!

After a very rough set from a band called The So-So Glos (nowhere near worthy of opening up for such a show), Young the Giant took the stage. This was my third time this year seeing these indie rockers, so I knew a bit of what to expect. The "Anagram" opening into 2014 hit, "It's About Time."

After that familiarity, everything was unpredictable. Members from Manchester Orchestra and Grouplove both would take the stage at random times throughout the night, sometimes just increasing the backing rhythm, and other times by taking over the vocals.

Grouplove exclusively performed their hit "Colours," as well as a rowdy cover of the Beastie Boys "Sabotage." Manchester was more just helping out, adding extra guitar sound and having a good time jumping around on-stage with the Young the Giant guys.

Despite all the activity on stage, the spotlight for majority of the night was on Young the Giant lead singer Sameer Gadhia. Sameer captivated the audience with his voice, leading the crowd through tunes off both of the bands albums. Songs like "I Got," "Apartment" and "Cough Syrup" (all off the debut) all were received extremely well. The boys also spent time highlighting some of the best from their new album. My personal favorites were "Mind Over Matter" and "Crystalized."

One of the highlights of the night was when all three bands came on stage for a surprising cover of TLC's 90's classic - "No Scrubs." Another was when the bands were joined by even more guests for the final song of the night - "My Body." The performance of "My Body" was insane, one of the rowdiest of the weekend with both the crowd and the band members on stage jumping around all over the place.



This one was definitely a special night for sure. Young the Giant and Grouplove specifically are two of my favorites, and they're both so busy that they rarely cross paths anymore. Seeing them perform live together was quite the treat. It really brought back memories of spring 2012 when the pair performed my favorite concert of that year. Hopefully we'll see the pair team up for another tour again someday. Their synergy is perfect.

Concert Rating: 4 Stars






SETLIST:

• 1. Slow Dive 
  2. Anagram 
  3. It's About Time 
  4. El Scorcho 
     (Weezer cover) (Sung by Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra)
  5. Eros 
  6. I Got 
  7. Sabotage 
     (Beastie Boys cover) (Performed by Grouplove)
  8. Teachers 
  9. Apartment 
  10. Make it to Me 
      (Performed by Manchester Orchestra & Grouplove)
  11. Cough Syrup 
  12. No Scrubs 
      (TLC cover)
  13. Colours 
      (Performed by Grouplove)
  14. Waves 
  15. Crystallized 
  16. Encore:
  16. Street Fighting Man 
      (The Rolling Stones cover) (With Christian Zucconi of Grouplove)
  17. Mind Over Matter 
  18. My Body 
      (Performed with EVERYONE)