Young the Giant, Milky Chance, & TALK at The Rooftop at Pier 17
On a windy summer evening in New York City, Talk, Milky Chance, and Young the Giant delivered an unforgettable experience as a part of Pier 17's Summer Concert Series. Pier 17 is located in downtown Manhattan and is an incredibly picturesque rooftop venue with 360 views overlooking the Manhattan skyline and water.
Kicking off the night, Talk took the stage with their distinctive blend of alternative rock and pop. Lead singer Nicholas Durocher came out adorned with glittery makeup and a fun paint-splattered set of overalls. The band's chemistry was palpable as Nicholas frequently interacted with his lead guitarist, even going so far as to lick his face during their set sloppily. With all smiles, the band's energy was contagious and played to a vast crowd that doubled in size by the end of their performance, setting the tone for one heck of a night.
Next up was Milky Chance, and they did not disappoint. The German duo brought their unique blend of folk and electronic sounds to the stage, and the crowd was absolutely mesmerized. Everyone was on their feet, swaying to the beat as Milky Chance played their iconic tracks, such as "Down By the River", "Stolen Dance", and "Sweet Sun". They also played a couple of new songs titled "Golden" and "Better Off" that were a total vibe as the sun set over the East River. Pier 17 is just one stop on their lengthy USA/Canada 2023 tour, which ends in September in Colorado.
As the night progressed, the entire venue was packed as everyone excitedly gathered for headlining band Young the Giant. While waiting, traditional Indian music played, and the stage became decorated with a set of string instruments and Indian architectural structures, setting the backdrop for a unique cultural music experience. This draws inspiration from their most recent album 'American Bollywood', whose lyrics speak to the American Indian immigrant experience unique to lead singer Sameer Gadhia and the other original band members. As Young the Giant made their way out, the stage was filled with blue light, and the opening song, "American Bollywood", played. The string instruments in the back added an ethereal element to the music, delivering a performance that was nothing short of exceptional. As a transition between different moments in the band's set, poetic video clips narrated by Sameer showed on the giant screens on both sides of the stage, elevating the show to feel like a cohesive story.
This isn't Young the Giant's first tour by any means, and it's incredible to have watched their trajectory from a small alternative band to superstar headliners playing sold-out amphitheaters. With each new album, the band continues to dig deeper into exploring themes of identity, culture, family, and growth in their music. They've come a long way but will always end each show with the smash hit "My Body" as a tribute to the song that put them on the map. You can catch Young the Giant on their 2023 summer tour, which spans both the U.S. and Europe and closes out on October 17th in Milan, Italy.
Words & photos by Nicole Guillen