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Sidling onstage through hazy pink lighting, emerging from giant fake palm fronds, enters the ever so calm and collected Glass Animals. A humble but enthused "Thank you!" escapes frontman Dave Bayley’s lips after triumph in the form of newest single ‘Black Mambo’ played first to the crowd.
On Tuesday 10 March, a huge amount of fans pile into the Shepherd’s Bush Empire to see achingly cool and funky up-and-comers, Glass Animals. An eclectic mix of East London twenty-somethings, slightly aged West London bohemians and excitable teenagers, the venue has tonight been transformed into what feels like an exclusive party – the people here are in the know, and there are a lot of them; proving to every doubter the band’s (well deserved) growth in popularity and renown over the past year.
Smash hit ‘Gooey’ draws excitement from the crowd; whoops and hollers of appreciation followed by frenzied movement – not a body in the audience stood still, all twisting and turning to its irresistibly spacey, foot tapping beat. ‘Hazey’ is another that entrances the heaving crowd, transforming them into a sea of waving arms and swaying heads, shouting and singing along with delight.
The band are tranquil and unperturbed onstage – they completely belong, but maintain humility; “Joe and I used to come here when we were little kids, pretty cool place to be honest” Bayley chats nonchalantly with their friend, the crowd. He dives into the crowd twice during the set simply to dance with the audience – staying there for the entirety of their cover of Kanye West’s ‘Love Lockdown’ in the encore. “I should probably get back to the stage,” he laughs when the moreish cover comes to a close, “thanks for dancing with me!”
The evening exhibits Glass Animals as a band to watch – with an extensive growing fanbase, unique, funky tracks, and a laid back performance style, their shows are musically tantilising with a enjoyably relaxed atmosphere.
