Glass Animals at the Roundhouse, London, gig review: Magnetic stage presence and a robust setlist bewitches

Glass Animals are the manic pixie dream boy you knew at school, finally turning the impish charm in your direction.

Picture: (Neil Krug/DawBel)

Glass Animals are just beginning their UK tour for second album How to be a Human Being. First signed by Adele producer Paul Epworth, the indie rock outfit have found a dedicated legion in the two short years since their debut. The months spent touring America ahead of these UK dates have not drained the band’s stage presence but energised it.

This was a brilliant second album show. Despite the band’s continued need for a signature, defining song, every single track on the set list at the Roundhouse is stronger than the finales of most bands. The singles ‘Life Itself’ and ‘Youth’ open the show, and excitement breaks like a wave for third crowd pleaser ‘Season 2 Episode 3’. The rest of the night is peppered with big hitters from Zaba, and not a dud in earshot.

The audience revel in the atmosphere. Glass Animal’s on stage hubris is charming rather than irritating. A pineapple is lobbed from the stage. One would think the prickles hurt but the crowd shrieks with glee instead. That evening Glass Animals are the manic pixie dream boy you knew at school, finally turning the impish charm in your direction.

A descent into the masses during the encore produces more screams, yet one feels for the roadie left feeding the cable as frontman Dave Bayley burrows across the audience. This is all a prelude to their tongue in cheek Kanye West cover ‘Love Lockdown’.

It’s an adrenaline ride, and impressive for the precision strikes on the crowd. It’s a tight set with quality musicianship, the kind of live performance that drives you to listen to them on repeat in the days that follow.