Glass Animals with Binki In Charlotte

Released back in August of 2020, the album Dreamland from the band Glass Animals would simply have to wait before fans of the album would have an opportunity to hear and see the tracks performed live. However, the time has come, and Glass Animals have hit the road in support. This stop found The Dreamland Tour in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre as the tour is just getting started. The event was sold out and way before the time came to open the gates the line was down the street. A sense of excitement was quickly evident in the air and it felt great to be back at a large concert event. The crowds certainly were forefront on the mind but with a restriction on showing proof of your vaccination or negative test as well as on-site rapid testing I personally felt comfortable at the outdoor event. Additionally, for us in the media, we were required to mask up and many in the crowd also chose to do the same. It was clear early on that so much of this event felt like any other pre-pandemic concert and the little things that have become a part of living during a pandemic were just that, little things.

September evenings in North Carolina can be hit or miss on the comfort level of the weather but this one was a beauty. With a relaxed vibe overall and excitement for what was to come, North Carolina native Binki took to the stage as the opener. With nothing more than a literal bag of tricks and a microphone, Binki played through a set of his unique blend of hip-hop-inspired indie rock.

A fun and energetic set, Binki even pulled out of his bag of tricks some fun magic tricks that engaged the crowd in a way that showcased how well he understands working with the audience with a very stripped-down set of him and only him singing over his music. I would imagine it could be easy to be overwhelmed by such a big stage, but his presence and engagement left a mark on the crowd and as he continues to gain exposure on this tour, I am sure his sound and stage performance will grow.

With everyone seemingly in the venue and in their seats, the venue was packed. I was unaware prior to the event that it was a sold-out show and it looked like a sold-out show as you gazed out over the crowd. Glass Animals have done some really cool visual extras for this tour converting their website to an interactive virtual desktop similar to a late 90s early 2000s operating system circa the Mac OS. On their website, they are offering music and images for fans to experiment with, and on the big screen for their stage set up, they have mimicked the interface as well. Prior to coming on stage, the big screen computer interface showed a download counter that looked as if it were downloading a file but was instead counting down showtime.

Glass Animals have really capitalized on the nostalgia of that time period and have employed that aesthetic in a contemporary way that creates a vibe so in tune with their sound. As the set time approached, the crowd was definitely ready to sing along and were working to warm their vocal cords with a sing-along to Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” which was playing over the house speakers, and seemingly every person in the crowd knew the lyrics too. Speaking of the crowd, it was incredibly diverse across a broad range of demographics and I think it is worth noting the appeal that Glass Animals has, it was a sold-out show after all. This fanbase was super excited for this show and from down low in the pit all the way back out to the lawn almost everyone was singing along and dancing, which to be honest is super easy to do. Glass Animals were enthusiastic on stage and were happy to be playing to the sold-out crowd. That enthusiasm poured out to the fans and as their grooves filled the air you could see it in everyone’s faces and hips as they smiled, sang, and danced along. Glass Animals kept the tempo pretty high much of the night as they played their hits like “Tangerine,” “Black Mambo,” and “Gooey” but it was really the encore with “Tokyo Drifting” and “Heat Wave” that sent the crowd into their biggest frenzy and left the night for everyone on a super high note.

It was clear from the start of the night that everyone in attendance was ready to have a good time and that this show in particular was an event that they had looked forward to. From parents purchasing t-shirts with their kids at the merch booth to couples on a date night, to friends in groups dancing all over the lawn, this mixture of feel-good music and an event that mostly felt “normal” resulted in a good time that has us all ready for more.