Concert Review: Gang of Youths Form At Irving Plaza
I had seen Gang of Youths before in an intimate, acoustic show, and they were excellent. Yet, as I mentioned with Cults, different locations bring out different layers. It is like putting water in a cup versus putting water in the ocean. At Irving Plaza, Gang of Youths were water in the ocean, and they felt like a powerful, energetic resource for humanity.
When you look up to a person, it is because we think they are above us. Yet, “above” can mean either we see that person as better than us or better at being themselves, of which David Le’aupepe is the latter. He is so openly living in his heart, and gives his entire body and soul to a song. He continuously looks as the crowd with a “wink-nudge” vibe; as if to ask them, “Are you feeling this music as much as I am?” You could tell by the first subject he chose to chat about, his father’s death, that he wanted a deep, reciprocal connection with the audience. Grief is not, usually, headlining topics for anyone, but an artist has a particular opportunity to go to and express spiritual places we do not normally travel to.
From “Fear And Trembling” to “Let Me Down Easy,” every track felt like it was gut-busting with emotions, particularly the desperation to feel light again after darkness. “Keep Me In The Open,” “Do Not Let Your Spirit Wane,” and “What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out?” might as well be the song versions of every time a person tells their self to stay strong. Everyone, at least once, needs to give their self a pep talk, and David’s voice is that uplifting self-chat. Vocally, he feels like he has been barreled for a 100 years, like a fine whiskey, and poured unto tracks to put your negative thoughts into a clear glass. Suddenly, you can see that, even at its worst, your life is bearable. Thus, as the lead vocalist and guide of the night, David is refreshingly open and leads everyone, by example, to believe emotional honesty is the only way to live.
From laughter to sadness, Gang of Youths give you every word and verse to show you they are only human, and that is pretty great. Their songs are bombastic, vigorous, and encompass life as a big adventure that is not about whether you are worth being alive as much as whether you are living worthily. After all, “alive” is what everybody is, but living a life of value and meaning to yourself is what it is about. In concert, Gang of Youths make you feel like you are. For More Information On Gang of Youths Click Here
