After several days of non-stop rain, the outlook for Glass Animals' Brisbane performance at The Riverstage (22 November) looked uncertain.
Having faced many rainy Riverstage performances before, it can truly make or break the experience, but to the pleasure of the thousands in attendance, the weather only delayed the start by ten minutes – a small price to pay.Their first performance in Brisbane since 2019, the Sunshine State having being left off their 2022 Dreamland tour (we feel you, Perth and Adelaide), local fans were ecstatic to revel in the groovy, electronic-laced indie rock of this exceptional outfit.
The growth in their fanbase is undeniable, as evidenced by the contrast in venue size since their 2019 show. From playing the 1,500-capacity Tivoli to the 10,000-strong Riverstage, Glass Animals' success is a testament to their rise, fuelled partly by the virality of their 2020 hit, 'Heat Waves'.
Opening their set with the tom-driven introduction of 'Life Itself', the English quartet launched into the high-energy, catchy chorus joined by raving fans. From there, they moved effortlessly into the seductive groove of 'Your Love (Déjà Vu)' and 'Wonderful Nothing'.
Image © Hope Morgan
With Dave Bayley's engaging performance, fans were quickly treated to some of the band's best tracks. Though some may have favourites, it's impossible to pick a definitive standout.
From the soaring notes of 'A Tear In Space (Airlock)' to the charged performance of 'The Other Side Of Paradise', there's something in their set for every music lover to appreciate. The '80s-inspired visuals surrounding 'Youth' added a fun layer to the night, and the crowd responded warmly, lighting up Riverstage with their phones during 'Lost In The Ocean'. Bayley's quick, sharp, "that was pretty f...ing cool" was met with laughter before they seamlessly moved into 'Gooey', a staple of their set.
Throughout, Glass Animals avoided long pauses keeping the momentum high with almost no downtime between tracks. 'Show Pony', with its unmistakable synth-line, played through the night air, signalling their time onstage was nearing its end; but not before reminding us they still had plenty of rock to deliver with 'How I Learned To Love The Bomb' and 'Take A Slice'. Both tracks featured crunchy, overdriven guitars, solos, and catchy riffs.
The longest pause of the night was brief – an extended intro to 'Pork Soda', where Bayley took a moment to highlight the band's members: Drew MacFarlane (guitar), Ed Irwin-Singer (bass), and Joe Seaward (drums). It's remarkable the same line-up has stayed intact since the band's inception in 2010, a rarity in today's music scene.
Image © Hope Morgan
As expected, the band performed their biggest hit, 'Heat Waves', to close out the night. Despite the predictability of this encore moment (and the fact many shows nowadays follow the same encore formula), the crowd went wild, reaffirming its place as the highlight of the evening.
For me, however, 'Tokyo Drifting' was a personal favourite, especially with Denzel Curry's pre-recorded video performance adding a bit of star power, akin to Lime Cordiale's 'Bad Decisions' featuring Idris Elba at the same venue.
By the end of the night, drenched in sweat but satisfied, fans made their way through the Botanical Gardens, their spirits not dampened by the weather after witnessing a phenomenal performance.
More photos from the concert.
