Judging by how quickly Glass Animals sold out not one but two dates at Edinburgh’s Liquid Room, it’s fair to say they have a few fans in this neck of the woods. Such a supposition is quickly borne out by the raucous reception the band are given as they amble onto the stage, and by the loud cheers that greet the opening few bars of every single song in their set. The four-piece might hail from Oxford, but they’ve found a second home in the Scottish capital.
To be fair to the band, it seems like the feeling is mutual. Right from the get-go all the way through to their two-song encore, frontman Dave Bayley pours his heart and soul into the performance, summoning impressive reserves of energy to keep throwing shapes and belting out belters throughout. Even more infectious than his irrepressible élan is the sheer delight he appears to take from being on stage – like a boisterous child let loose in a sweet shop, Bayley maintains an ear-to-ear grin for the duration.
Indeed, there has always been something childishly playful about Glass Animals, from their onomatopoeic track titles (‘Gooey’, ‘Walla Walla’, ‘Cane Shuga’) to the indulgent everydayness of food discussion in their lyrics (“peanut butter vibes”, “pineapples are in my head”, “my girl eats mayonnaise / from a jar when she’s getting’ blazed”). At the same time, they’re adept at combining this immaturity with an otherworldliness in their music, making it seem at once nostalgic and alien, exotic and homely.
In person, these two elements combine to superb effect. Musically, the band are tighter than a duck’s rump and flow seamlessly from one track to the next. In particular, Joe Seaward’s drumming is instrumental (forgive the pun) in knitting the sound together, while Bayley’s showmanship and incredible, unusual vocals make Glass Animals one of the premier live acts on the circuit. They might contain elements of childishness, but make no mistake – this is as fully-evolved and perfectly-put together an indie rock band as you’re likely to see.
At the encore, Bayley wades into the audience to deliver a cover song with which The Wee Review is not familiar – but not to worry, everyone else seems to be. With the rapturous crowd fully won over, Bayley gleefully announces Glass Animals will be back up to Scotland in the summer. We can’t wait.