Glass Animals Brings a Magical Night to Merriweather Post Pavilion

Glass Animals performed an amazing live show in the legendary Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, where the event spontaneously turned into a hymn to steam and funk. It seemed that the impromptu rain shower brought both a sense of freshness and a prelude to the storm that would follow.

Kevin Abstract

Then it was like a sunbeam intervening through a gap in the clouds, as Kevin Abstract, one of the originators of the genre-defying hip-hop band Brockhampton, took the stage and began what was to be a memorable night.

He cleared the stage at the beginning of the show and suddenly was in the audience jumping over the barricades and roaming the nearby aisles. This sky-high jump gave the first glimpse of the idea: it was going to be a unique concert with an extra dimension. In between band songs like “Gummy” and “Buzzcut” and his solo tracks, he excited the crowd. His genuine approach and down-to-earth attitude made even a bewildered audience feel that they were surrounded by a friend. The Magic of “I Love You So Fing Much” As the show went on, the tension in the crowd that could have been felt earlier on was award-winning.

Glass Animals

Later, the entrance of the Glass Animals was highlighted by an enormous banner suddenly backlighted with the words “I Love You So Fing Much,” the title of Glass Animals’ album. This new song that was just released in July incorporated most of the songs of the night. When the stage lights went off and the curtain was undeployed, a set was revealed that looked like a spaceship and the audience was made to feel that they were pushed into a new dimension.

Glass Animals began the show with the track “whatthehellishappening?,” a song that, right away, made it clear that this is how the night will sound with its lively rhythms and catchy melodies. Led by supreme gentleman, Dave Bayley, the frontman’s energy alongside the crowd filling every corner of Merriweather Post Pavilion caused the place to shake with enthusiasm. The next song, “Life Itself,” lifted the energy orbit above the audience. In one mind, the crowd of thousands exclaimed the chorus “Cut back down to my knees. Gotta get back, gotta get free” along with Bayley whose stage presence was infectiously visible as he bounced around.

Highlights and Surprises

The band delivered a spectacular performance as they launched into “Wonderful Nothing,” a song that soon took on the band’s heights. This recent track is a manufacturer of mysterious vocals, a dramatic pause and then a beat drop that caused the grounds of the amphitheatre to be felt. The heavy basslines and rhythmic percussion that were played by the band have completely immersed the audience and led them into a near trance-like state. This sensation was accompanied by “Space Ghost Coast to Coast,” a track whipped up from the band’s third album “Dreamland,” which was not only reminiscent but also lively.

The band was not only the master of the music but they made the crowd feel so good by their warm humane stories. The entire concert was filled with moments when Bayley expressed his true happiness, confessing that it had always been his dream to perform on the Merriweather Post Pavilion stage. The people of the audience have been regarding this place as a magical place forever, and their idea that the place is a special place was confirmed again. Bayley specifically mentioned the album “Merriweather Post Pavilion” by Animal Collective which has been his favourite since he was twelve years old and because of which he developed a special relationship with the venue.

Intimate Moments and Energetic Finales

As the first chords of “Gooey”, the most beloved and famous track from their debut album, started playing, it was almost like the evening became a more personal affair. Bayley was on the stage all the time, except when he went to the crowd so that he can perform part of almost the whole song from the lawn railing. This influenced the listeners uniquely, and now they were completely in tune with the tracks. The place was metaphorically a battery; individuals could sense the electricity flowing through their bodies. The party was then served a series of tracks: “Take a Slice,” “Tokyo Drifting,” and “Pork Soda,” in quick succession. “Take a Slice,” a song from 2016 can take credit for TikTok’s latest rage, in the crowd, there was an explosion of excitement. On the other hand, “Tokyo Drifting” featured a unique moment of audience participation. The phrase “Wavey Davey’s on fire” was repeated by enthusiastic shouts of ‘Wavey Davey’ that resonated through the amphitheatre and other people were clapping in this rhythm.
Pineapples are in my head, a widely known line that is long related to “Pork Soda.” During this time, a large inflatable pineapple was hurled around the fans, and the band members could not help but laugh. The experience of developing such a feeling brought out the best emotional output from Bayley, who said Merriweather Post Pavilion is the greatest venue in the world. Fred and Jane completed their tasks and left the stage, but it was not the end of the show.

Encore and Unforgettable Conclusion

Firstly, a humorous video played with the concept of a planned encore. Then the band came back to finish their set with the final song “The Other Side of Paradise” and their massive hit “Heat Waves.” The singers accompanied Bayley during the last song, which prompted his fans to chant louder and louder, which caused an overwhelming sound that resounded throughout the arena. After the show, as the words “Thank You So F***ing Much” were displayed on the screens, Bayley expressed his gratitude to the crowd for being such an unforgettable company. His honest voice and genuine appreciation for the venue and the city made it obvious that this event was an outstandingly personal one both for the band and the fans.

The night during which, Glass Animals, besides showcasing their incredible musical talent, showed their ability to establish a strong connection with the people in the crowd. The concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion will not be soon forgotten, not by the band, and certainly not by the thousands of fans who witnessed this magical evening.

Photo’s (c) Ryan McCormick