Young the Giant

My fellow press photographers and I were escorted through a cleared path that cut straight through to the pit at the front of the Tabernacle stage. As fans awaited the members of Young the Giant to hit the stage February 22 in downtown Atlanta, the air was thick with anticipation, humid heat, and filled with the murmurs of eager fans. When we reached the designated area for the press, my nose was greeted by the edge of the stage. It didn't register in my mind just how close I would be to the band until the lights dimmed and a wall of screams bombarded me as the members of Young the Giant stepped onto the stage. The first few notes of “Anagram” caused the screams to double in force and volume. Whenever the beat dropped, the drums pounded, or the mood of the song shifted, the lights behind the band added to the story each song was portraying. The lights mimicked the music and the audience mimicked the lights. Fists pounded the air in time to the drums and lights flashed, all simultaneously. A fast song slowly trickled into a melancholy melody and the lights lost their intensity and faded from ferocious reds and yellows into deep, almost black, blues and purples. One of my favorite songs of the night was “Firelight.” The hypnotic sounds from the guitar, mixed with lead singer Gadhia’s gentle singing, made my chest swell up with an unknown feeling I can’t quite name. Accompanied by the tranquil state of the crowd, my eyes filled with tears as I felt the music engulf my mind. Near the end of the night, Gadhia made an announcement before the next song. “This song really means a lot to us,” he told the crowd. All night I had been waiting to hear "Cough Syrup" and I knew if I didn’t hear it, I would be slightly disappointed. I was relieved when the first familiar notes rolled over the screams erupting from all corners of the hall. Gadhia's voice merged along with every other person in the audience as we all sang together. Every pause and inflection was met with long-time practice and precision. For me, it was like seeing an old friend and feeling as if nothing had changed. This was the second time during the show that my emotions ran wild with the music, bringing me tears of sheer joy, while I smiled and sang until my throat was raw. Hearing Young the Giant live gave me a deeper appreciation of the group. They put so much passion, soul, and feeling into each and every song they performed and I could feel it. The crowd wasn’t just clapping and cheering, those who knew the words, myself included, sang along to song after song. It was beautiful to see the crowd’s reaction after the first strums of the guitar and to see hundreds of bodies sway to the beat of the same drum. Being able to experience Young the Giant live and to be able to connect with the music on a whole new level is something I will never forget. The band's studio recordings pale in comparison against a live YTG show.

Young the Giant has been one of my favorite bands for so long, since the release of their self-titled debut album, I had hoped for the day that I would see all their gorgeousness live. This day came way later than I planned, after the release of their second album (Mind Over Matter), but it was so worth the long wait. Mind Over Matter really surprised me because of how different it sounded from the first album, but it made me love the band even more. I'm all for how they mixed up their overall sound; it shows how musically diverse they are. While listening to Mind Over Matter, I noticed how each of the band members have improved since their debut album. I never knew Sameer, the lead singer, had that amazing falsetto, and the tempo changes in some of the songs really exemplify how talented this band is. I couldn't wait to finally see Young the Giant.
Seeing them perform in the flesh was such a surreal moment. They were all so beautiful and they played a good amount of songs from both of their albums. They also had awesome style; Eric wore a flamingo sweater and polka dot pants. The crowd was so energetic, and we all sang (more like shouted) along with Sameer. One of the many things I love about Young the Giant is that you can really see how tight they are when they are performing, and everyone gets a chance in the spotlight. They all were so into the music, which helped give the show an upbeat vibe. One of my favorite parts was when they performed "Camera." This song has such a different feel compared to any of their other songs, and seeing them play it live blew my mind. During that song, Sameer switched over to the keyboard. He then surprised us by playing the electric guitar for "Mind Over Matter," and that live performance made me appreciate the song even more. The encore was by far my favorite part of that night for so many reasons. "My Body" was freaking amazing, and that was when everyone was basically jumping out of their shoes! Sameer was so interactive with the crowd throughout the show, and during that song, my friends and I finally got to touch him! He would occasionally lean over the crowd so the people close to the front could get a chance to be close to him. After the concert, my friends and I couldn't get enough of Young the Giant, so we decided to brave the cold weather and wait outside, hoping for at least one of the band members to come out. After what seemed like the coldest hour of our lives, Sameer finally came out! He was so nice, really personable and so easy to talk to. Knowing that Young the Giant sounds amazing live and are also really nice people makes me respect them even more. I'm so grateful that I got to experience that memorable night with my friends and a band that is so dear to me.

Californian rockers Young the Giant are a successful commercial band in their homeland yet in the UK they are perhaps better described as cult with a loyal following yet only often playing in the capital. This night is was the turn of the intimate Garage to host the quintet to a packed out crowd of devoted fans.

Having left four years between their two albums and changing their sound relatively dramatically for 'Mind Over Matter' I was intrigued to see how they would blend the new material with fan favourites from the debut. The sheer energy they attacked the stage with was refreshing for American glam-rockers and they have clear passion for their music. Playing a selection from both albums, singles such as 'Cough Syrup' received mass sing-along by the audience and despite the second album only having been released a few months, the new material was received as fondly.

'Crystallised' was a real moment with lead singer Sameer Gadhia conducting an emotional and sincere rendition of this album highlight. First single 'My Body' wrapped up an energetic show that left British fans hoping the band would visit more often.

I saw YtG at the beginning of their Home of the Strange Tour, and it was kind of an accident that I saw them again a year later. Technically, I went to see CWK, but I stayed for YtG because what the hell. And I must say, I was very much impressed with the tour this time around. It seems they worked out their kinks, the crowd was more engaged, they started on time, and played a full 90 minutes. This time it was great, the band was really synced and you can tell they were enjoying themselves.

This time around, they played the Santa Barbara Bowl, which is a bit smaller than The Greek theater, the other outdoor amphitheater I saw them at. The SBB was a better venue for the YtG here they completely filled out the space, and the show was really phenomenal, it was fun and engaging, and it made you dance. A lot of fun this time around, and I'm glad I took the second chance.

My boyfriend and I saw Young the Giant in Athens on Halloween. I have been a massive fan of this group for years and I was estastic as soon as I heard about their tour! I've had the tickets bought for months now and drove a total of six hours just to see my favorite band. Needless to say, I was definitely not disappointed. The concert was amazing!! They sound just as awesome in person as they do on record, if not even better! These guys can really put on a killer show. My boyfriend and I were so close to the stage we could actually touch it. To top the night off with perfection, I was able to touch Sameer's, the lead singer, hand..not once but twice. It was pretty fantastic! Thank you guys for an AWESOME show. Can't wait for the third studio album and next concert!!

Young the Giant was great! The lead singer, Sameer, brought such an energy to his singing and performance. At some times he’d be banging the tambourine on his leg with great enthusiasm, or he’d be swinging away at the cowbells, dancing along with it. Even when he was just singing there was so much emotion; I was never bored watching him. As for the other members, they played very well—so experienced with the ten-odd years they’ve been doing this—and everything seemed to flow together as it should. I would definitely recommend seeing them!

I wept real Jesus tears. They are so good live. I was fortunate enough to be in the second row and it was mind blowing. They have such great interactions with the crowd. Despite Denver being one of the last stops on the Home Of The Strange Tour, they still looked like they were enjoying themselves. They were so relaxed, they looked like they were completely in their element. 100% recommend seeing them if you have the chance. Also, they sound exactly the same, if not better live. They are a really talented group.

I absolutely loved this concert. Before I went to the concert I wasn't really aware of the band, but I was totally in love with the concert they put on. Instead of focusing on entertaining the crowd, they focused on the music and performing to the audience. This made the band few very raw. Also, the lead singer was extremely passionate and the show itself involved the audience. For someone who didn't know the band, I really enjoyed it!

If you ever get the chance, you MUST see these guys live. One of those gems that sound exactly like their albums. They are amazing performers— they really gave us a fun show to watch. The talent of these guys.....several times I just closed my eyes and took it all in. The atmosphere of it all really got to me.
Overall, such a beautiful experience & I am so glad I was able to be there. One of the best concerts I've ever been to.

Had the best time at the mini concert. Completely enjoyed YTG's performance. They sounded amazing and were eye capturing with their detailed clothing. Sameer's energy was great and never left the crowd bored. Even after Sameer was so kind to sign and take pictures with the fans. Would for sure see them again in a heartbeat! Thank you Younh the Giant, I admired the new album and was thankful to experience Home of the Strange.