The eclectic band, Young the Giant, brought the Home of the Strange Tour to Austin on February 11-12. They are headlining this tour following the recent release of their album, Home of the Strange. That weekend, Young the Giant performed not one, but TWO sold out shows! The concert took place in the evening at the outdoor venue at Stubb’s. I was lucky enough to be in attendance at the Saturday performance, where my infatuation with Young the Giant was completely reaffirmed. Lead singer Sameer Gadhia came out on stage rocking a baby blue colored jumpsuit. The stage was lined with flags that appear on the cover of their album Home of the Strange. The flags stood as a symbol, welcoming every member of the audience to the “land of the free and home of the strange.” Young the Giant kicked off the concert, performing a track from their newest album, “Jungle Youth.” They then followed up with one of their new singles, “Something to Believe in,” which really energized the crowd. This song has gained quite a bit of popularity within the alternative scene and has allowed the band to gain a larger following. The band also performed several songs from their previous records, which was exciting to veteran fans such as myself. Some of these songs included “Apartment,” “Cough Syrup,” and “Mind Over Matter.” During “Firelight” the band encouraged the audience to take out their phones and lighters. Everyone swayed with their lights while the stars twinkled in the background. Overall, Sameer was the highlight of the concert. He truly got the crowd going with his groovy spirit, and it was entirely evident that he gave the performance his all. On a comical note, Sameer embraced his fearless individuality by poking fun at the fact he was wearing a baby blue “onesie” (pictured below). He was truly comfortable on stage and transitioned through roles of singing, dancing, percussion, and even playing the ukulele. He talked with the audience about how the band does not fit into a specific box and is not easy to define. This further indicated their variety of musical styles and wide appeal across a diverse audience. The concert ended with the encore performances of “Amerika,” “Silvertongue,” and “My Body.” Young the Giant rocked hard with a solid performance. They definitely left the audience with something to believe in. Written by: Lauren Ward Photos Courtesy of Lauren Ward