I started listening to Young the Giant (and bands like them) a few years ago when I bought a new car with satellite radio. This radically increased my exposure to all kinds of great bands. I quickly got hooked on Young the Giant songs like “My Body” and “Cough Syrup.” Later, “Something to Believe in” and “Silvertongue” continued to hold my interest. So when I found that they would be one of three concerts at this year’s Safeway Open in my own backyard (at Napa’s Silverado Resort), I made sure to clear my weekend to check them out live.
Sometimes it’s fun to discover new bands/artists when they open for other bands you’re dying to see. Other times, my introversion rears its ugly head and I want to just get straight to the “good stuff” and not have to wait through even the best opener. Last night at Silverado, there was no time wasted. Shortly after 7pm, Young the Giant was announced; they began with “Amerika,” followed by the brilliant “Something to Believe In” and “I Got.” At that point I had to leave the photo pit, so I took a minute to grab a drink and settle myself in the VIP section while the band played “Titus Was Born.”
After “Mind over Matter,” frontman Sameer Gadhia spoke to the crowd, marveling at the turnout. It has been two and a half or three years since they last played Napa (at in 2015), and they recently were occupied with finishing their new record (Mirror Master, out next week). The band has been too busy to play many shows, so Gadhia explained that it “blows my mind that there are this many people here… shit’s crazy!” The next made me swoon a little, as it’s not only the band’s current single but a personal favorite, “Superposition.”
Next came “It’s Over,” followed by “Cough Syrup,” which Gadhia encouraged the crowd to sing along with if they knew the words. “So this next song is about the presence of things in our life long after they’re not with us,” Gadhia introduced as they began “Firelight.” Next came “Apartment” and another lovely recent single, “Simplify.” The band started the last song of their regular set, “Home of the Strange,” but quickly stopped when they noticed security and other emergency personnel rushing to someone in the front of the crowd. Gadhia called a stop to the show long enough to make sure that everyone was ok, and then began the song anew.
The band left the stage for a brief interlude, but came back quickly to perform two of their biggest hits. They were two of my favorite songs, so this was an easy highlight of the show for me. After the sexy “Silvertongue,” Gadhia bid the crowd goodnight, saying, “be safe tonight, enjoy yourselves!” The last song of the evening was a perfect note to end on, “My Body.” Sadly, it was already all over, and not yet 9pm. On the other hand, that meant it was early on a Friday night in Napa, and there’s plenty to do to take Gadhia’s advice and go enjoy the town.
