On Nov. 27, Oxford indie rock band Glass Animals visited the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville. Though their 2016 release “How to Be a Human Being” was a fairly generic concept album, the tunes from the record came alive in the hallowed halls of one of Nashville’s most famous venues.
As most of the crowd settled into the Ryman’s famed pews, D.C. electronic artist Imagined Herbal Flows took the stage armed with a MacBook, synthesizers and multiple mixing modules on a table. He delivered a decent set playing songs off his latest record, “Departure,” yet everyone remained firmly in their seats waiting for the headliner to start. Nevertheless, Imagined Herbal Flows managed to set the mood for the night.
The main event soon emerged from the wings, in front of a delightfully trippy backdrop featuring a tunneling optical illusion. The band took their position, preparing to play a kick drum sporting a watermelon design and guitar amps with real pineapples atop the glowing orange tubes.
The interlude song “[Premade Sandwiches]” pumped through the speakers, making more sense in a live setting than on “How to Be a Human Being.” The real set began with the thunderous drums of “Life Itself.” The crowd sang along to the heavy starter, and followed suit with the groovy “Black Mambo.”
Singer and lead guitarist Dave Bailey then took the mic in hand and led the audience in singing “Season 2 Episode 3” before grabbing a tambourine and continuing into the moodier “Hazey.” The upbeat “Poplar St.” preceded “The Other Side of Paradise,” which showcased Bailey’s vocal abilities.
The band played nearly all of their latest record, and revisited 2014’s Zaba with songs like “Toes,” “Pools,” and most notably “Gooey,” which featured Bailey climbing on top of the watermelon kick drum to conduct the crowd.
Drummer Joe Seaward was certainly the highlight of the evening. From behind his percussive lair he conjured grooves of all varieties using a standard kit fitted with a drum pad controller. His tight rhythms guided Glass Animals all the way through the encore of “Pork Soda,” a song that gave Dave Bailey the chance to wander the audience, guitar in hand.
The sound was glorious, though all music in the Ryman inevitably ends up sounding flawless. Many criticize Glass Animals’ aesthetic, saying that they’re hamfistedly quirky. Others claim that they’re a discount Animal Collective, watered down for the masses and stagnating in attempts to be unique. But their live shows demonstrate a persona that’s certainly fun, and without a doubt nearly every audience member left the Ryman satisfied.
Photos by Kathy Yuan.