The crowd was packed tightly into The Ritz this Saturday for a sold out show with Oxford England’s Glass Animals. This happened to be Glass Animals’ first pit stop on their tour in the U.S., and it was clear they were drawn in by the energy of the crowd as they expressed their gratitude for such a warm welcome.
As an indie rock and trip-hop band, Glass Animals thrives on music that taps into what makes us all human. Their lyrics are dedicated the precious nature of our human emotions. Recently, Glass Animals released a new single, “Life Itself”, and a new album, How to be a Human Being. Ready to give their fans a dose of these fresh sounds, they opened the night with “Life Itself” and “Youth”.
When lead vocalist Dave Bayley realized that the North Carolina crowd was ready to get down, he announced he was “taking off his shoes for this one.” It was right after that when they pulled out “Black Mambo”, the first Glass Animals classic of the night.
As the night progressed, crowd pleasers like “Hazey,” “Gooey,” and “Toes” left the whole room full of emotion and singing until they were breathless. Bayley even made a trip into the audience to embrace the fans after they had showered Glass Animals with love all night. In front of a desert backdrop, a pineapple, and golden disco ball, the four members of Glass Animals showed up to Raleigh to share those “peanut butter vibes.”
Looking around The Ritz, it was obvious that Glass Animals brings more to the stage than just music. It is the message in the music that truly gives people the power to move.
Article by Annie Wall
Photos by Anna Norwood