There’s something undeniably hypnotic about Glass Animals—an energy that draws fans from all walks of life into their universe. On September 8, 2024, at Rogers Arena, the British indie-pop phenomenon marked the 20th stop on their Tour of Earth, and fans arrived dressed to transcend the ordinary. The crowd—a sea of neon, space-themed makeup, Western-inspired looks, and the ever-present pineapple motifs—mirrored the band's eclectic, genre-blurring essence. The result? An atmosphere as vibrant and chaotic as the show to come.
Photos by Tage Stenner / Backspin Canada
Before the first note, an enormous black curtain hung over the stage, pulsating with anticipation. The phrase “I LOVE YOU SO F***ING MUCH” flickered across, a fitting declaration from a band whose deep emotional connections with their fanbase are as celebrated as their music. Moments later, the words melted away, the curtain giving way to the band as they launched into "Life Itself," the opening salvo of a night that blurred the line between reality and dream.
Rogers Arena morphed into an alien landscape of sights and sounds. The most captivating element was a massive, globe-like installation at centre stage that periodically erupted into holographic displays—ranging from interstellar scenes to oceanic depths, pulling the audience into Glass Animals’ world of imagination. Every track was accompanied by a spectacle of colour, with lead vocalist Dave Bayley’s haunting falsetto threading through the layered visuals and surreal instrumentals.
From Space to Ocean Depths The setlist was crafted with precision, balancing songs from their latest album I Love You So F**ing Much* with fan favourites from Dreamland and How to Be a Human Being. After a soaring rendition of “Wonderful Nothing,” the crowd roared into "Space Ghost Coast to Coast"—a reminder that while Glass Animals can build celestial dreamscapes, they still know how to deliver raw, gritty beats.
“Creatures in Heaven,” a track off their latest record, encapsulated the night’s atmosphere. It’s a love song dressed in stardust, with shimmering melodies swirling alongside lyrics that explore love against the vastness of the universe. It felt cosmic and deeply human all at once. Fans swayed in a unified trance, fully immersed.
The main set closed with the high-octane “Pork Soda,” a quirky, bass-heavy anthem that once again called the crowd’s attention to their favourite recurring motif—the pineapple. And just when fans thought the night couldn’t get any better, the band returned for an encore with "The Other Side of Paradise" and their chart-smashing "Heat Waves." The latter’s opening chords triggered immediate goosebumps as the audience sang along to every word, the venue awash in shimmering lights. GLASS ANIMALS TAKE VANCOUVER ON A COSMIC JOURNEY.
Existential Crisis & Introspective Depths This tour is more than a musical experience; it's an emotional reckoning for Glass Animals, especially Bayley. During quieter moments between tracks, he spoke to the audience about the journey of I Love You So F**ing Much*, a record born from isolation and introspection. His candid reflection on fame, identity, and the overwhelming responsibility that comes with success added a deeper dimension to the night. “Sometimes, life changes faster than you do,” he admitted. “This album is my way of trying to make sense of that.”
Indeed, I Love You So F**ing Much* is a love letter not just to fans but to the human experience—its complexities, contradictions, and vulnerabilities. Songs like “A Tear in Space (Airlock)” and “How I Learned to Love the Bomb” were laced with both melancholy and hope, their emotional gravity intensified by the ethereal staging.
A Mesmerizing Blend of Sound and Vision Glass Animals have evolved from a band delivering dream-pop hits to creators of an immersive multi-sensory journey. The tour’s production, sound, and setlist showcased a band fully in control of their craft, pushing boundaries and elevating live performances to new artistic heights.
As the final notes of “Heat Waves” echoed through the arena, the message was clear: Glass Animals aren't just performing at us—they’re inviting us into their beautifully bizarre world. And the only question that remains is, how far are we willing to follow them?
What’s next? Will Glass Animals continue to evolve beyond their galactic experiments, or is there still more to explore in the depths of the human experience?
UPCOMING GLASS ANIMALS: TOUR OF EARTH – NORTH AMERICA DATES:
Sep 11 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sep 13 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sep 14 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
Sep 17 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Sep 20 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Sep 21 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sep 22 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
GLASS ANIMALS: TOUR OF EARTH – EUROPE/UK DATES:
Oct 15 – Paris, France – Zenith
Oct 16 – Brussels, Belgium – Forest National
Oct 17 – Dusseldorf, Germany – Mitsubishi Electric Halle
Oct 19 – Warsaw, Poland – Expo XXI
Oct 20 – Berlin, Germany – Max-Schmeling-Halle
Oct 22 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
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