Words & Images by Jack Foley
Milky Chance, hailing from Kassel, Germany, have joined Young the Giant on tour to promote their latest release Living In A Haze. Milky Chance first broke into the mainstream music scene in 2013 with the release of Sadnecessary, which includes hit singles “Stolen Dance” and “Flashed Junk Mind”. After an energetic performance from TALK, Milky Chance moseys on stage, cocktails in hand; their charisma is unmatched. Their energy was calm and collected, yet strong; the presence of frontman Clemens Rehbein can be felt from all corners of the venue. I find myself instinctively nodding my head to songs such as openers “Synchronize” and “Cocoon”. Their rendition of Gloria Jones’ “Tainted Love” is about as Milky-Chancey as you can get, providing a refreshing take on the classic hit. They interweave notes of electronica and house with indie and folk to create an amalgam of sounds, all of which synergize into a complexity that pleased the crowd. Milky Chance stole the dancefloor for the duration of their set, and they certainly have my attention.
Young The Giant have been trailblazers in the indie rock scene since 2010 upon the release of their critically-acclaimed debut self-titled album. Sophomore effort Mind Over Matter, as well as follow-up Home of the Strange further paved the road to ensure their place as a cornerstone of indie rock. The long-awaited American Bollywood was released on November 16, 2022.
The air hangs in a haze of nag champa and summer sunset. As the lights go down, Young The Giant enters the stage in preparation for the first act of their show. The moment they took the stage at KEMBA! Live on June 17th, the crowd erupted with applause and cheering. Frontman Sameer Gadhia enters the decorated stage, his attire accentuating the nature of their latest effort American Bollywood, which explores the intersection of identities as a first-generation American, born to immigrant parents from Ahmedabad, India. They open with the album’s title track, and end the first act out of four with fan-favorite “Cough Syrup”. I glance back at the audience to see some in tears, others screaming as loud as their lungs allowed. The connection between the fans and the artist is electric. Their sound is crystal clear and as close to perfect as live audio can be; they sound like a professionally mixed and mastered studio recording. Between the acts, video narration appears behind the stage as the lights go down, further reinforcing the notion that this is not just a concert-– it is a story, and Gadhia’s chosen language is art. After three acts, the fourth concluded with “Mind Over Matter”, the title track of their sophomore effort in 2014.
After immense applause from the audience, Young the Giant returns to the stage for an encore, which included a performance from local Columbus drag performers Anaslaysia Annejob and Selena West during “Dancing In The Rain” to cap off a day of festivities and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. As the show ends with “My Body”, chills run down my spine as they belt out the final chorus.
My eyes are certainly open, and I won’t quit listening to Young The Giant after this stellar performance.
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