English rockers, Glass Animals, put on a terrific show for the sold out crowd at the Triffid last week. The fact it was a school night clearly hadn't deterred anyone, and with a packed room, the amazing acoustics of the venue and a well-rehearsed set, it really was one of the best international shows to have stopped by Brisbane recently. The set included all the band's hits from their debut, plus a selection of soon-to-be released songs from their upcoming new album How To Be A Human Being. 

With an international band headlining there's often an eager early crowd at the venue and tonight was no exception. Brother and sister duo Lastlings were greeted with curious cheers when they took to the stage first. Joshua and Amy Dowdle began getting attention in August last year with the release of their debut single Wavelength. Following it up with Chills and their most recent single You, the two continue to show great initiative in the ever growing electronic pop genre. Although the dark lighting makes it hard to see much beyond the the stage, Joshua is appreciative of the big crowd, claiming it is the biggest they’ve had the opportunity to perform to. Relying heavily on a singular launchpad, the two power out a solid thirty minute set.

As the cavernous venue reaches maximum capacity, Glass Animals make their way on stage. With no signs of hesitation they rip into Life Itself, the first single from their sophomore album set to be released later in August. Glass Animals have done extensive touring since the release of debut LP ZABA and tonight that experience really shows. They are so comfortable on stage and seem to effortlessly enthrall the crowd. As they role through Hazey and then their break-out hit Gooey, it's a friendly reminder of just how many good songs their debut album had. With three launchpads, dozens of samples and other unknown sources of sound, the crowd is transported to the jungle. Front man Dave Bayley steals the show with endless amounts of energy as he dances from one side of the stage to the other, at one point jumping on top of the drum kit to use it as a literal platform. His soothing ethereal vocals still pack some serious punch, and from the sample of new tracks we're given, it's clear he has plenty more surprises up his sleeve. In particular the slow rap rhythm of the unreleased Season 2 Episode 3 highlights the diversity of the band’s influences. 

In the second half of the set we are treated with a soulful version of Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Gold Lion before finishing with the band's much loved older song, Toes. Glass Animals return for a two song encore which features a sing-along cover of Kanye West’s Love Lockdown in which Bayley walks through the crowd as he sings/raps. He jumps back on stage to join the band as they round out the night with Pools before promising to return to Brisbane soon. With an 11pm finish suitable for a Thursday night, punters begin to make their way home still soaking in the sheer brilliance of what they’ve just been a part of. 

- Isabelle Armstrong