Glass Animals w/ Amber Mark
WaMu Theater, Seattle, WA
09.16.17
After emerging from a two-year hibernation, Glass Animals hit the ground running with their sophomore album, How to Be a Human Being. The band got a bit of attention for “Gooey,” a weird track off their debut with lyrics about peanut butter pies and such, but seemed to lose momentum after that. Then, with the release of their second album, a slight style shift launched them back up the charts and lent their live show a wonderful reputation.
Their WaMu headlining show opened with Amber Mark, a new name with a performance that seemed experienced. Her laid-back soft pop tunes and dance moves got the crowd ready for the night with a nice introduction.
Returning to Seattle to celebrate their new album for the third time in under a year, Glass Animals had a dedicated fan base ready to say goodbye to our warm weather with some sunny music. These guys left everyone at their Paramount show last October in shock from the incredible night, lit up Deck the Hall Ball in December, and this show simply continued the streak.
Glass Animals ran on stage among palm trees and golden pineapples after their intro music, ready to dance with everyone to “Life Itself” and a couple of older tracks. Zaba, the band’s debut album, sets a base for their sound now—jungle vibes layered with Dave Bayley’s whispery vocals, and lyrics that often make no sense. The second album takes these characteristics and shapes them in a way that fits the group perfectly, now coupled with killer hooks, and melodies that’ll be stuck in your head for days.
“Season 2, Episode 3” is a perfect example of this. Played mid-set, this was clearly one of the tracks the crowd was looking forward to most. The song features weird lyrics (the word “mayonnaise” is used), old school video game sounds, and a quirky vibe that’s perfect to sing and laugh along with.
Tears rolled as the band closed their set with “Agnes,” a more loving, emotional song than the rest, and the floor bounced as everyone jumped along to the final encore song, “Pork Soda.”
Glass Animals had a fantastic set because they’re so different than anything else around right now. With a gold disco ball pineapple, songs about mayo, and intros about premade sandwiches, their quirky personalities shone through in the best ways. Their set was a wild night, and one that anyone packed into WaMu was definitely fortunate to experience. Much love for these guys.
Review and photos by Lulu Dawson
Glass Animals
Amber Mark
