In an unusual and refreshing move, Young the Giant has made their way across the country this summer on a pseudo-acoustic tour in support of their latest EP, In the Open Volume One. Instead of the standard full band electric performance that fans are used to, the quintet has reworked sections of their discography to completely flip the script on some of their most popular tracks. The Rialto Theatre in Tucson was completely sold out on Monday as curious fans packed the room to the literal rafters to hear these reimagined versions and celebrate the next iteration of the band.
Opening the show was indie singer and former American Idol contestant Cassandra Coleman. Dressed to impress in a stunning floral gown and backed by two talented guitarists, Coleman ran through a repertoire of original material as she gears up to release more music in 2026. The room was already filling up and the fans stood attentively during her charming performance. Even though the set was only 30 minutes, Coleman left a positive impression on the audience and they cheered her offstage in preparation for the final act of the evening.
The Rialto’s humble stage was made even cozier with Young the Giant’s living room setup, surrounding the band with soft lamplight, suitcases, flowers and even burning incense. Their entrance was understated but the crowd’s reaction was not- the fans went wild as each member took their place to journey into the open air together. “Islands” and “The Walk Home” kicked off the performance with the muted instrumentals lending a completely different quality to the songs in the very best way.
Singer Sameer Gadhia spoke for the band at intervals, telling anecdotes about the making of specific tracks, the band’s journey over the last decade and how turning their YouTube series of outdoor performances into a tour has been a rewarding challenge as a group. He also began “Apartment” in the wrong key, sheepishly restarting the song to adjust to the more acoustic nature of this rendition. The audience was elbow to elbow, staring raptly at the stage and singing along in the calmest way possible as to not drown out the band. The result was a beautiful harmony of voices that brought clear joy to the faces of everyone onstage.
This first volume of what could be an indefinite series (to be determined by an unsure YTG) picked songs from each of the band’s albums, alongside a new track and each one was represented in Monday’s setlist. For a band that’s well known for their loud and proud live shows, they perfectly adapted their most anthemic tracks to fit the tour’s atmosphere- it really was like watching the band jam in an open field under the stars.
After 15 amazing songs- including “Heat of the Summer”, “I Got” and “Amerika”- it was time to say goodbye with a final selection of “Mind Over Matter” and “Life is a Long Goodbye”, a brand new outro that softly sent the sold out audience into the balmy Arizona evening. With sly hints at more to come in 2026, Young the Giant will never be far from the road or far from their fans and it’s safe to say that Monday’s experience was simply a ‘see you later’ on the way to the band’s next endeavor.
