A little shout went out from the back of the crowd minutes before Glass Beams were scheduled to take the stage at the Red Marquee. It came from the back, so he had little idea of what was going on. As it turns out, it was a quick rain shower, perhaps the first real rainfall of the festival, providing a little cooling relief and wind for the packed audience inside. 

For those unlucky to be trapped outside, there was little to do but curse their poor planning. Glass Beams, the psychedelic trio from Melbourne, Australia, play in ornate gold masks. and Glass Beams, the most mysterious masked group among the performers, appears on stage. The The band was formed in Melbourne by Rajan Silva, whose father is an Indian immigrant, and to keep the element of surprise and mystery, the band performs in masks, and the identities of the other two members have yet to be revealed. 

The visuals of the band are similarly consistent, with exotic costumes with the same color hue and style. But when it comes to their live performance, almost nothing can be predicted as this three-piece run through traditional Indian ragas and turn to pouring pre-recorded tracks to fill out their sound. The result is an astonishing and mesmerizing mix of dance music, which, given today’s heat, just might make a few people pass out.

As soon as the trio takes the stage, one notices minimal lighting, which comes from behind. This makes the band seem even more mysterious, and the opening track, “Mahal,” starts with a mysterious hypnotic sound, backed by an exotic drum groove. The simple beat paired with distorted guitar creates a familiar sound that is just a little bit outside of many people’s comfort zone, but the audience immediately starts writing and dancing. 

In the U.S., the band is frequently compared to Khruangbin, which mixes western and eastern influences but in a low-key manner. Glass Beams takes it a step further, going all in with eastern sounds with a booming backing track of bass and drums. 

In “Kong,” a metallic chiming sound is used throughout, creating a feeling of cosmic psychedelia. At the close of the number, every member is going full volume and sending the crowd into a dance frenzy. 

The Red Marquee is now a full-on dance club. Everyone was grooving and giving themselves to the vibe. The cheers and thunderous handclaps were heard everywhere, reflecting the power of music to influence and change the world for the greater good.