The Jungle Giants Send Out Their Love Signs in Phoenix

Hailing from across the globe, Australia-based indie-pop ensemble The Jungle Giants are leaving a trail of pure joy as they bring their headlining ‘Tripping Up’ tour across North America, which included a stop at the Rebel Lounge in Phoenix, Arizona. The tour has also seen the group put on shows in Los Angeles and Brooklyn, culminating in what will surely be a spectacular set at Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco.

Comprised of Sam Hales (vocalist/guitarist/songwriter/producer), lead guitarist Cesira Aitken, bassist Andrew Dooris and drummer Keelan Bijker, the band has grown pockets of loyal fans across the world. After a stellar performance at M3F Festival back in March, Phoenix is no exception to this. Months later, even the heat of a 105 degree night couldn’t keep the droves of teenagers and twenty-something year old fans away from the venue. Given the packed setlist featuring both new and old hits like “Used to Be in Love”, “Sending Me Ur Loving”, and “Love Signs”, the determination to be present for the show was more than understandable.

Opening the show with the restrained, more mellow vibes of Something Got Between Us, the band immediately put their masterful ability to manage the energy of their crowd on display. There were already a number of bouncing heads visible throughout the packed room, fueled by the buildup of the song’s refrain: “Hey, never gonna let you go, not this time”. As soon as the first chorus began, the group immediately triggered the first of many waves of ecstatic, dancing fans across the crowd.

While their setlist was predominantly made up of popular hits, it also featured the recently released single “Rakata”, a self-described love letter to Mexico. The song saw The Jungle Giants collaborate with RENEE for another captivating track, which included lyrics in both English and Spanish. Despite it being one of the slower songs of their set, it was well-received by a cheering crowd that was grateful for a chance to catch their breath amidst a rare, momentary break from dancing.

This break was short-lived though, as the band quickly resumed their regular programming of high-energy tracks that leave audiences with no other choice than to move in any and every way possible. Closing out their set with fan favorite “Heavy Hearted”, there was a feeling of absolute catharsis in the air that was nearly tangible for those in the crowd. By the time the show had come to a close, the only thing left for fans to do was hold onto the hope that The Jungle Giants would soon return to Phoenix, where they will always have a place on our stages.

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