3 thoughts I had during the Young the Giant concert
"Cough Syrup" live was a religious experience
When my college roommate and I saw Young the Giant announce a summer tour with Milky Chance and TALK, we knew we had to jump on getting tickets.
We bought the general admissions tickets Skyline Stage at the Mann for the show at Skyline Stage at the Mann for $68 each. That’s less than $70 for three incredible acts.
Young the Giant released the finale of its four-part album American Bollywood in October. The album, inspired by the Indian epic of Mahabharata, explores themes of “identity, belonging, and home.”
Now that I’ve checked this long-anticipated show off my list, here are my thoughts:
1. I wish I listened to YTG’s more recent stuff
Fans and non-fans alike may agree the Holy Trinity of Young the Giant songs are “Cough Syrup,” “Mind over Matter,” and “My Body.” I’m not saying I didn’t know any songs outside these three prior to seeing the show, but these were the songs I was most excited to see live.
About four years ago, a classmate of mine told me whenever she or her roommate were feeling down, they’d get in the car and blast “My Body” with the windows down. That’s what YTG’s music is best known for. Their songs are cathartic when sung allowed. They pack a wide range of emotion, an almost cinematic quality.
YTG’s frontman, Sameer Gahdia, feels the same catharsis we fans feel when listening to YTG’s music, evident from his movement on stage.
I wasn’t too familiar with American Bollywood before this concert. While we made a point to listen to the album on the way to the Mann, hearing the songs live opened my eyes to their message.
Personally, I love music that tells a story, especially ones of life and self-discovery, which is exactly what this album is about. Songs like “Wake Up” and “The Walk Home” pack a harder punch for me now that I’ve heard and seen them performed live.
2. I’ve been sleeping on Milky Chance
In all honesty, I went into the show more excited to see TALK than Milky Chance. I liked a lot of Milky Chance songs, but there weren’t many I connected with on an emotional level like “Run away to Mars,” which I had on repeat after discovering the song on TikTok last winter.
TALK’s powerful vocals highlight the depth in his lyrics—my other favorite song by him now is “Afraid of the Dark,” which he revealed at Sunday night’s show is about his grandmother. If you’re a fan of acts with emotional lyrics, classic rock-influences, and a killer fashion sense, be sure to check out TALK.
Until Sunday, I did not realize Milky Chance was a band rather than one person, and I do feel kind of weird about that now.
Like TALK, I made a point to listen to more of the band’s discography ahead of the show. I loved “Stolen Dance” and a few other older songs, but I wasn’t familiar with some of their newer music.
But after watching the German duo’s performance, all I wanted to do was run home and add more Milky Chance to my summer playlist. The band has a lot of fun music, and their stage presence only enhances that energetic, upbeat sound, whether it’s through dancing or dueling pianos or absolutley shredding on harmonica.
And once again, costume goes a long way for me—I really loved the band’s fuzzy bucket hats and lead vocalist Clemen’s button-up floral shirt.
3. This is better than The 1975
We’ve all seen the videos—Matty Healy ripping into raw steak, stumbling drunk on stage, kissing fans or bringing them up to get tattooed. He’s a performer, we’ll give him that.
While some consider him problematic, many praise Healy’s “performance art” during shows. Everything he does is a form of commentary or intends to tell a story.
Though Young the Giant didn’t serve any gimmicks Sunday night at The Mann, I couldn't help but think that the Ghadia’s energy wasn’t much unlike Healy’s, that he sang with the same level of emotion and energy. On top of that, the band has just many adolescence-defining songs as The 1975, and cost a couple hundred dollars less.
My friend and I managed to snag a barrier spot between Milky Chance and YTG’s sets. We were standing right behind the barrier when we saw two people leave their spot, which would have cost a year’s rent if this were a 1975 show.
As we were processing the fact that we were about to hear “Cough Syrup” live and up close, we watched the stage crew assemble the new set, which was already looking impressive for a show that only cost us $68.
Have I been to a 1975 concert? No. Will I go to their recently announced tour in the fall? Possibly, if I’m employed.
But the bottom line is, there are better indie boys out there. Or, better yet, there’s indie men.