Concert Review: Young the Giant at Music Midtown in Atlanta
Ah its good to have Music Midtown back in Atlanta. The revival of this music festival that ran from 1994 to 2005 is a welcomed thing. It originally shuttered in 2005 due to declining attendance and rising costs to put on the event so jump six years into the future as the event compacts itself into a one-day event to prove this festival has staying power in Atlanta. Atlanta needs this. Most other major metropolitan cities put on an eclectic music festival every year. Not to knock the Atlanta Jazz Festival but that is more for the wine and cheese crowd. Atlanta needs to rock. Thanks to advanced ticket sales, event promoter Peter Conlon recently announced that plans for a two-day event are already in the works for Music Midtown 2012.
Of the ten bands that were on the bill Saturday, one of the more interesting additions was a group hailing out of Irvine, California called Young the Giant. A relatively new creation in their current form, they released the group’s eponymous debut album in October and haven’t looked back since. They’ve released three singles, toured with indie royality like Minus the Bear and Neon Trees as well as been a mainstay on the festival circuit with South by Southwest, Lollapalooza and now Music Midtown appearances. Opening for Incubus on their latest tour isn’t too shabby either. They are an alternative rock group running along a fast trajectory towards stardom.
The band is comprised of five members fronted by Sameer Gadhia. His Indian heritage certainly wasn’t lost on select members of the crowd. A group of anxious Indian teenagers lining the front row asked if I was going to be standing in front of them for the whole show. “Nope just here to take pictures for the first three songs — no worries, I’ll be moving around during that time,” I replied. The collective exhale was noticeable. This was the group, specifically Gadhia, they had come to see. Every other band was little more than window dressing to these girls.
Young the Giant had a 45-minute set so they kicked right into their album’s opening track ‘Apartment.’ Released as their second single, it definitely is one of the standout songs from the album with an intriguing subtle hook that unknowingly pulls you in. That effect gets amplified live. Sameer Gadhia is the band’s undeniable focal point as he belts his vocal fervor through numbers like the rock anthem ‘My Body.’ You almost were a bit worried that he’d pop a vein with his steadfast intensity. He was firmly affixed in the moment, and it was a cool thing to witness.
Given their catalog consists of just the solo album (not counting their EP with the Jakes here), it got heavy rotation in Young the Giant’s setlist though they did introduce us to a few new tracks they’ve been toying with. Though it takes more than a single listen to assess the merits of a song, the initial listen was promising. Hopefully, they are able to build on the burgeoning success from their debut as they continue to raise their stature in the rock community.
Young the Giant played a very solid set and of the bands supporting the headliners (Coldplay and the Black Keys), they were one of the most memorable of the afternoon. Gadhia has a transfixing intensity that draws the crowd in, and its hard to look away. I look forward to hearing more of this crew in the days ahead.
