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On July 24, indie rock fans were in for a real treat with three unique bands, Young The Giant, Cold War Kids and Beach Weather, each bringing their own flair to the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
Starting the night off, Massachusetts-born Beach Weather took the stage. With a start time of 7 p.m. on a weekday and with UBC being quite a trek for most people, seats were quite empty during its set.
Nonetheless, the band brought their signature warm and dreamy sound. “High In Low Places” was a standout track, coupling lead singer Nick Santino’s mellow vocals with ethereally catchy choruses. Beach Weather mixed in some of its claim-to-fame songs, including “Chit Chat” and “Swoon”, and Santino really gave it his all, shouting the outro of “Sex, Drugs, Etc.”
While very much a band you’d see at a festival or opening for a bigger act like the Beaches a few years prior at the Orpheum, Beach Weather is slowly gaining a loyal following. It’s exciting to see the band evolve, and hopefully it has a chance to headline more tours of their own.
Next up on the bill was Long Beach, California-formed Cold War Kids. Being veterans of the indie scene, it was less of an opening set and more of a co-headliner, with the band performing a 14-song set in an hour-long time slot.
With material dating back to 2006 and ten studio albums, it felt more like a celebration, with Cold War Kids running through some of their most important songs throughout the years like “Hang Me Up To Dry”, “First”, “Love Is Mystical”, and “What You Say”.
Lead singer Nathan Willet also took the time to thank the crowd for showing up early and supporting Cold War Kids for 20 years, with their 2006 debut album Robbers & Cowards standing the test of time after two decades. His raw emotional vocals carried the set, sounding just as good performing the almost gospel-sounding “Hospital Beds”. The band also ran through “We Used To Vacation,” where they seemed to fully let loose, with bassist Matt Maust’s signature animated playing style really popping off.
Although technically a support, Cold War Kids’ energetic and hit-filled set proved they can hold their own.
Young the Giant took the stage just after 9:15 pm, premiering the new sounds of their 2026 release Victory Garden with the first track “Evergreen”. The stage design matched the album’s aesthetics, featuring large, lit-up red, blue, yellow, green, and orange flowers.
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Young the Giant’s performance leaned heavily on Victory Garden, with its songs making up about half of the setlist. More intimate tracks off the album like “Already There”, “Ships Passing”, and “Mona Lisa” seemed to lose some in the crowd with a drop in energy throughout the arena. Maybe that was due to more casual listeners in the crowd, but there definitely seemed to be a shift once some of its hits like “My Body”, “Cough Syrup”, and “Mind Over Matter” were played.
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The show appeared to struggle with attendance, with the stage moved halfway to the middle of the floor, and there still seemed to be gaps in the floor and in the seats. Not the fault of the band, but Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre tends to feel bigger than it really is. A more intimate venue like the Queen Elizabeth Theatre or the Orpheum might have better complemented Young the Giant’s sound, helping the audience feel more connected with the band and making those emotional moments hit harder.
Iconic Young the Giant songs like “My Body,” “Cough Syrup,” and “Mind Over Matter” shifted the energy in the venue for a reason. The songs are nostalgic and resonate deeply with many, and for one moment the crowd was transported back to a simpler time in their lives.
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