Glass Animals @ The Anthem [DC] - 3/29/2022
Glass Animals at The Anthem in DC (Photo ©2022 Hailey Collins)
The Anthem in the nation’s capital was Glass Animals’ last stop on their U.S. tour behind their acclaimed 2020 album, Dreamland. The quartet from Oxford was nominated for a Grammy this year for “best new artist” which has many fans confused considering “Gooey” and “Black Mambo” have been staples in the indie pop scene since 2014.They treated the crowd at the Anthem to a night of neon 90’s nostalgia.
The stage was set up like a swimming pool, equipped with a diving board and ladder. A giant retro computer screen played vaporwave graphics in the background. The band took the stage and eased into their set with the delicate title track from their latest album before diving into the more upbeat “Life Itself.” The 16 song setlist featured songs across all three of their albums with highlights including Dave Bayley performing most of “Tangerine” while bouncing on top of the diving board and a version of “Black Mambo” mashed up with “Hot sugar.” They finished the night with “Pork Soda” before returning to the stage for an encore of their 2 smash hits “Tokyo Drifting,” and “Heat Waves.”
Glass Animals were joined on tour by Sad Night Dynamite, a UK-based hip hop duo made up of Josh Greacen and Archie Blagden. They treated the crowd to a high-energy set that included “Psychedelic Views,” which is inspired by a rat that died under the floorboards of the pub they recorded their music in during lockdown. Their latest single “Black & White” is out now via Parlophone Records.
Photos by Hailey Collins
SETLIST
Life Itself
Tangerine
Poplar St.
The Other Side of Paradise
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Waterfalls Coming Out Your Mouth
Your Love (Deja Vu)
Take a Slice
I Don't Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)
Youth
Helium
Gooey
Pork Soda
Encore
Tokyo Drifting
Heat Waves