Written by Antonina Schubert
There’s something magical about a perfect summer night, good friends, and great music, and Young the Giant delivered all of that and more during their Cincinnati, OH show at the Hard Rock Casino.
Opening the night was Joywave, and let me just say, where have they been all my life?? Their energy was off the charts from the moment they hit the stage. It was my first time seeing them live (or even really diving into their music), but it definitely won’t be the last. The crowd was instantly hooked, vibing hard to every track. Their song “It’s a Trip!” was a personal favorite and was added to my Spotify liked songs shortly after. Their set perfectly set the tone for what was to come.
Then it was time for Young the Giant. And if you’ve ever seen them live, you already know what a gift that is. I've been following them since 2017, and their ability to evolve while staying rooted in emotion and authenticity is what keeps fans, like me, coming back again and again.
Young the Giant (Sameer Gadhia, Eric Cannata, François Comtois, Jacob John Tilley, and Payam Doostzadeh) played with their whole hearts, and the crowd gave it right back. People danced, sang every word, and lost themselves in the moment. You could feel the passion radiating from the stage and echoing across the lawn.
Their setlist was the perfect mix of old favorites and new material. “Cough Syrup,” a song that’s meant so much to me over the years, hit especially hard. There was a moment mid-song where I just stopped, soaked it in, and let the nostalgia wash over me.
But the night wasn’t just about looking back. The band also shared a glimpse of what’s next with unreleased songs like “Mona Lisa” and “Bitter Fruit,” and the crowd was all in. New sounds, same soul. It’s clear Young the Giant is growing, but staying true to their emotional core.
When “Mind Over Matter” started, Sameer paused to thank the audience, reflecting on the band’s journey and how that song in particular has had a resurgence thanks to the fans. That moment of gratitude, paired with the golden sunset glowing behind the stage, was pure magic.
And if this show was any indication of what’s ahead, their upcoming In The Open tour (starting August 15) is going to be a must-see. Promising an intimate concert experience across 15 U.S. dates, this run is shaping up to be a true celebration of the band’s evolution. There’s passion in every note, every lyric, and every moment of connection with the crowd.
Simply put, it was a show that reminded me why I fell in love with live music in the first place.
