8.17.2023 | Greek Theatre | Berkeley, CA
I talked to a new friend after the show who told me that this is the biggest venue they’ve seen Young the Giants perform at in all their years as a fan. They finally have the ability to put on the stage production they’ve always wanted, she said. And it’s true. While this was my first time seeing them live, I could tell that they put a lot of thought and energy into the stage design. It told a story, as did their setlist. The video intermissions and song choices were interwoven into a complex story of love, loss, and growth. The optimism at the beginning of their show heightened the finale’s theme of starting over.
On Thursday, August 17, I had the wonderful opportunity of seeing Young the Giant’s at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. The show was mesmerizing. I took in the sights and sounds of the affair and fell in love with the band. Their charisma and energy was soaked in by the audience and reciprocated. Towards the end of their set, I was surprised that the band, and the audience in the packed pit, were still able to jump around.
Everyone, from the moment we walked into the venue, asked, “what are they going to do with that disco ball?” At the very top of the stage, tucked away behind the yellow flower garlands, was a giant disco ball waiting to be released. It was at the encore, as the band hid behind the curtains waiting for the perfect moment to get back onto the stage, when it was finally released and a spotlight was shone revealing beautiful reflections that resembled stars. The sun had set by then, and the San Francisco fog was steadily rolling in. The lights that bounced off the disco ball danced across the fog. This entire section of Berkeley was now part of this concert.
“Firelight”, which was dedicated to lead singer Sameer Gadhia’s dad, played just before the encore. It felt like a lullaby. With just the singer and guitarist on stage for a majority of the song, the audience was whisked away to a dreamscape where everything was safe. It was a wonderful experience listening to this song the way it was meant to be played.
Check out Young the Giant’s website to see if they’re playing in a city near you. For a sneak peak of what to expect, you can view the gallery below.
