Grammy-nominated British indie-rock band Glass Animals brought the heat — both literally and figuratively — to Bridgestone Arena on Aug. 27. Despite the scorching 100-degree Tuesday, fans poured into the venue, eager to experience the band’s “Heat Waves” hit along with the rest of their eclectic discography.
Glass Animals released their fourth album, “I Love You So F***ing Much,” on July 19 and started their world tour shortly after. The tour, aptly called “Tour of Earth,” started in the United States and will finish in Australia this December.
Fans, many of whom were dressed in elaborate alien costumes and extraterrestrial-inspired outfits, embraced the tour’s space theme, ready for an otherworldly experience. Bridgestone Arena was transformed into a galactic playground, with merch featuring celestial imagery like the Milky Way, planets and stars. The set design was equally out of this world, with screens displaying interstellar visuals synced up perfectly with the band’s music.
The setlist spanned the entirety of Glass Animals’ discography, from their 2014 album “Zaba” to the latest release. During the encore, the band played “Heat Waves” from “Dreamland,” which is one of the most streamed songs in Spotify history. (Currently, it has 3.1 billion streams.)
Highlights from the setlist included the two singles from the latest album, “Creatures in Heaven” and “A Tear in Space (Airlock),” and singles from their previous albums, “Life Itself,” “Youth” and “Tokyo Drifting.” Although “The Other Side of Paradise” was not a single from their second album, it was a platinum hit in the United States in 2016 and was played during the encore.
The concert could only be described as “hype,” with each song accompanied by a dazzling array of visuals and lighting effects. The band’s signature sound — a blend of psychedelic indie-rock with electronic elements — was enhanced by bass-boosted beat drops reverberating through the arena. The spacey, video game-inspired graphics on the screens perfectly captured the essence of each track, transporting the audience to another dimension. Lasers and strobe lights turned the audience into a neon sea of bodies.
Frontman Dave Bayley was particularly engaging throughout the night, frequently interacting with the audience. At one point, he ventured into the floor section to perform “Gooey,” the band’s breakout hit, on a smaller B-stage, allowing fans to get up close and personal. Bayley’s charismatic stage presence shone through as he donned various items of clothing handed to him by fans, from a quirky hat to a custom button-up shirt.
The arena was thrumming for the entire hour-and-a-half set, with fans on their feet, dancing and singing along to every word. The combination of electric guitar riffs, bass-heavy beats and the band’s infectious energy created a night that was as memorable as it was otherworldly.
Glass Animals’ “Tour of Earth” is more than just a concert tour; it’s a journey through sound, space and emotion that fans will be talking about long after the final show. But if you didn’t get to feel the love from Glass Animals this time, Bayley promised that the band would be back in Nashville because they love the city so f***ing much.
