Young the Giant brought their Victory Garden tour, featuring special guests Cold War Kids and Almost Monday, to The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Thursday, June 18th and Friday, June 19th. First III No Flash was there to capture the magic of night one as the five-piece alternative rock band from California delighted fans with the sounds of their nearly 16+ year discography.
Throughout their performance, the band honored their long-time fans by treating them to a mix of newer releases, beloved hits, and deep cuts. After kicking off their set with “Evergreen” from their newest album Victory Garden (released in May of this year), followed by “Superposition” off their 2018 release Mirror Master, the band had fans teeming with excitement for the remainder of the evening. With the sun setting on a clear, summer night and the New York City skyline as their backdrop, the band played roughly 20 more songs, notably closing out with “Mind Over Matter” and fittingly, “The Walk Home.” Fans were treated to the band’s soulful, textured sounds as they sang along to every word.
First coming to widespread prominence in 2010, the band — consisting of Sameer Gadhia (lead vocals), Jacob Tilley (guitar), Eric Cannata (guitar), Payam Doostzadeh (bass), and Francois Comtois (drums) — expanded their audience when a cover of their hit song “Cough Syrup” was prominently featured on an episode of the third season of Glee. Darren Criss, the actor who famously covered the song on the show, made a surprise appearance during the band’s performance on Thursday, dueting with magnetic frontman Sameer Gadhia.
The Victory Garden album’s themes of growth, resilience, and community were intricately woven throughout the band’s performance. Between songs, Sameer Gadhia spoke about connection and gratitude, emphasizing the importance of creating spaces where people can come together through live music. These sentiments resonated deeply with the audience, whose enthusiasm never wavered.
Be sure to catch Young the Giant on the remainder of their Victory Garden tour in North America through August, as well as in Europe throughout October.
GALLERY: Young The Giant at The Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York City (June 19, 2026)
