Garden State Arts Center
Yes, it's been "PNC Bank Arts Center" since 1996. That could change someday.
Coming early from the general parking (Lot 4), I heard water running on my walk up to the amphitheater, and just off the beaten path I found this little waterfall. Pays to arrive before the crowds.
Young the Giant and Cage the Elephant, 8/24/24
Willow Avalon opened the show. She has a delightful alternative country music sound, but I'm not sure why that came to an alternative rock concert.
The second opener was Abubakar Baker Shariff-Farr. You may know "Bakar". Turns out he sings solo, with prepackaged music and beats in the background.
Young the Giant was first out of the main acts. The closeups go from left to the right in the original photo: François Comtois, Jacob Tilley, Sameer Gadhia, Eric Cannata (freshly shaven), Payam Doostzadeh on bass. Writing this out, I learned the lead singer is Indian and the bassist is Persian.
Two more views of Sameer and his excellent voice. One without guitar, one without overshirt.
On to the final act! I again go from left to right with the many members of Cage the Elephant: Daniel Tichenor on bass, Matt Shultz on vocals and a scooter, Jared Champion on drums, Nick Bockrath on lead guitar, Mathan Minster on keyboard (and some other instruments), Brad Shultz on backup guitar (Matt's brother).
Again, the Shultzes. Matt had broken his foot before the tour, but that didn't postpone it! He did some nice wheeling tricks during the performance without reinjury.
This guy appeared a couple of times to shake the tambourine and maybe a triangle or similar. Not a band member, but deserves to be included.
Some other band views, including special shows of light and fire. The cloudy ultrasound in the 4th photo transitioned back and forth to the RBG you see after it.
