Dreamy tunes with a high chance of joy. German band Milky Chance delivered an unforgettable performance at Northerly Island in Chicago on Friday night.
Opening for Young the Giant, the four-piece band has hit the road promoting their newest album, Living in a Haze. Led by guitarist and vocalist Clemens Rehbein, the group of friends have played every festival from Coachella to Lollapalooza, captivating fans around the world with their addictive sound. As I waited for the band to take the stage, I saw them embracing from the sidelines, seemingly pep-talking to each other as only longtime friends can.
Kicking off their set with euphoric dance track “Synchronize” it was clear from the first beat that even the die-hard Young the Giant fans had discovered a new musical world to adore. From their original hit “Flashed Junk Mind” to Gloria Jones cover “Tainted Love” to Culture Club’s “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” it was physically impossible not to partake in some form of head bopping/ instinctive swaying/ foot tapping.
Addressing the sea of fans between songs, Rehbein complimented the audience’s moves while pushing them to let loose and enjoy the night. As the sun set over the city skyline, their feel-good hit ‘Stolen Dance’ rang out across the amphitheater—a core memory in the making for both myself and the sold-out crowd.
Now, I must admit, Milky Chance has been my favorite band for almost ten years now, and for good reason! A mix of nostalgia, raw emotion, and invigorating beats fused with elements of folk, reggae, and jazz, their new album is no exception to the style they’ve become known for. Described by the band as a maze of different sounds, they went on to preface: “During the pandemic, we had a lot of time to rethink, to digest a lot of experiences of the last 8 years. You can find some new sides of Milky Chance you might have not heard yet on Living In A Haze. Each song has its own mood and shows the whole spectrum of what we do.”
Embarking on their biggest US tour to date through September, I truly couldn’t recommend enough to prioritize grabbing a ticket.
Next to hit the stage: Young the Giant. Masters at ambitiously merging musical performance, lyrical storytelling and visual splendor, the American indie rock band are indescribable in the best way possible. Before hitting the stage, a video played showing presumably immigrant families standing on a beach with a voiceover: “All things have to begin somewhere. But where, and when?”
Opening with title track ‘American Bollywood,’ a song that both celebrates the band’s foreign roots while highlighting the isolation of the world, the stage was flooded with emotion as lead singer Sameer Gadhia left nothing in the tank.
Noting that Chicago was one of the few cities the band had visited twice in recent months, the five-piece band presented all of their most loved songs from “Cough Syrup” to “Heat of the Summer.” With the band briefly leaving the stage at intervals throughout the night, video continued to be projected as a tool to reinforce the meaning behind their lyrics, with a monotone commentary creating juxtaposed moments of reflective calm.
Formed in 2004, Young the Giant continues to break stereotypes while inviting audiences on a melodic journey. Touring across the US through August before hitting Europe to spread their messages of acceptance, this spectacle of a show is one not to miss.
MILKY CHANCE
YOUNG THE GIANT
