Sasquatch! Watch: Young the Giant

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Young the Giant is no stranger to BestNewBands.com: both Claire Gallagher and Lauren Novik interviewed the band last fall (check out Claire’s post here and Lauren’s post here). They are, however, newcomers to the Sasquatch! Music Festival at The Gorge this weekend, but with their unending energy and rockin’ rhythms, I’m sure they’ll fit right in.


This Irvine, Calif. band was originally known as The Jakes, and switched its name in winter 2009 after some band member change-ups. YTG got its big break earlier that year after winning an online contest to open for Kings of Leon at the Chicago House of Blues. Since then, Young the Giant has gone on to release its debut album on Roadrunner Records and have its music featured on MTV’s Real World: Brooklyn, A&E’s The Beast and even Fox’s American Idol.

In a review of YTG’s November 2010 show at UCLA, Claire Gallagher wrote, “From the moment that Sameer, the lead singer, opened his mouth, the energy in the room was completely different, and the crowd dug it.  The five boys rocked the now-crowded stage, and their chemistry was undeniable–you could tell from the start that these boys knew each other inside and out.  This onstage bromance translated to a fun, rocking set, and you couldn’t help but smile and move while your eyes were glued on them.”

Check out the official video for Young the Giant’s single, “My Body,” here:

I had an email Q&A with the band – here’s what they had to say about their upcoming Sasquatch! appearance.

Monica Christoffels: What are some things you’d like all your new fans to know about you?
Young the Giant: We’re a five piece band from Orange County, California. We’ve been playing together for the past few years and released our first album this past January. We enjoy long walks on the beach.

MC: Have you played at Sasquatch! before? If so, when, how was it like, etc.? If not, what are your feelings coming into the Festival?
YTG: We have not and we are so excited to be playing for the first time. When we got the call that we were going to be playing Sasquatch and that we would be playing the same stage as Wilco and the Decemberists it was pretty surreal.

MC: What can fans expect from your performance?
YTG: They can expect us to give everything we have on stage. We try to bring as much energy to each performance and we do a few little changes to each song to make it a bit different from the album. Playing live is our favorite part of being in a band.

MC: What else is coming up for your band?
YTG: Well we are currently in Europe finishing up a tour there and then head back to the US for some spot dates throughout the summer. We then head back to Europe at the end of August and then will be touring the US in the fall. So pretty much touring for the next few months.

MC: Anything else you’d like to add?
YTG: Make sure to come see our set at 12:30 on Monday the 30th and listen to our music at www.youngthegiant.com

You heard ‘em – check out YTG’s set at 12:30 p.m. Monday, May 30 on the Sasquatch! main stage. For more Young the Giant goodness, check out Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.