Last Friday night, I had the pleasure of seeing a longtime favorite band of mine, Glass Animals, perform their hearts out at Coastal Credit Union Music Park in Raleigh, NC. This stop on their Tour of Earth, promoting their new record I Love You So F***ing Much, brought fans of all ages and walks of life to the venue.
Opening the show was rapper, singer, and songwriter Kevin Abstract. His set was energetic and lively, including jumping down onto the barricade to give fans a personal experience. The crowd welcomed him with open arms, singing along and getting hype when he hit the more popular tracks.
When Glass Animals took the stage, no lyric was left unsung. Getting to experience fans' enthusiasm for these songs was a privilege; many of them were dressed in space themed outfits, the aesthetic of the album, and I saw more than one inflatable cow in the first few rows of the audience. The band members themselves were electric, bringing a new life and intensity to songs that I know and love, and changing my mind on the few I'd been unsure about when listening to the album. "Wonderful Nothing" was a particular highlight for me, as it's my favorite from the new record. The elongated instrumental sections – apparently crafted so that lead singer Dave could have a bit of a dance break – made me wish there was a live version of the album I could indulge in to relive the moment after it had passed. The energy that Glass Animals brought to the entire venue was something I've seen few bands successfully create, and with their impressive spaceship set, colorful, trippy visuals, and interaction with the crowd, I can definitely see why fans keep coming back for more.
You can listen to I Love You So F***ing Much wherever you stream music, and be sure to check out our gallery from the show below! Glass Animals is also touring through the rest of the year, so check out the dates here to find out where you can see them live!
