Upon my second arrival to Koko, I began to notice a trend; this venue never fails to deliver amazing shows. I guess I should have learned that the first time. Having missed queuing up, I arrived to the grand building- with its red walls and golden accents- just in time to see the headlining band, The Architects, begin their epic set. It was my first hardcore rock concert, and one concert that I’ll never forget.

Upon walking up the stairs to the upper level, we were met with the humid heat, deafening sound of screaming fans and even louder yells blaring from the stage speakers. Below us on the ground floor, a crowd pulsed; a chanting, cheering and moshing ball of teenagers, hanging onto the singer’s every word. I was stunned. Having never witnessed this type of enchantment and energy at a concert, I was mesmerized by the connection between the band and the audience. The cultish connection transcended the music; there was something much deeper going on.

But where did the connection lay? The Architects had a simple set layout. Just them, rocking on, standing atop elevated platforms at the front of the stage so they could be seen. By the third song, “Numbers Count for Nothing,” Sam Carter, the lead singer, had sweat through his grey t-shirt and could no longer shake his now soaking hair out of his face. There was no dancing (in the traditional sense), and I could not even understand the words, but the mass of teens on the floor knew every line.

The band played an intense, 14 song set, including tracks from both their new album, Hallow Ground and past albums – choosing to open with their new single, “Day In Day Out,” and the room was electric; it was a feeling that remained for the entirety of the concert. As The Architects went through every song, from “In Elegance” to “Buried At Sea” to “You’ll Find Safety” the crowd was pulsing, shouting and pushing back at the band on the lower level of Koko. Up above, a calmer, older audience watched, hypnotically head nodding, unable to not move to the intense sound.

The band also played a new song, and the mass of youngsters grew calm(er), in order to hang on to every word. Sam stopped before performing “Left with a Last Minute” to sincerely thank the fans for their support: “I love every single one of you. This has been the best year of my fuckin life, and I never, ever, want it to fucking stop. So please keep coming to the shows, please keep supporting us and please, keep letting us live our dream.” An earnest and honest plea to a crowd that loves this band just as deeply.

One group of Swedish concert-goers thought that the band’s uniqueness was their ability to be both dark and light. This was exemplified in their second to last song, “Follow the Water.” The lighting changed from pure white to deep purple, as the slow tempo track made the crowd pull out lighters and begin to sway. Yet somehow, the Architects still kept the energy level high; the song was thick with emotion.

The moshing, screaming, and crowd surfing is, as described by this same group of young adults, a new way to explore music. These concerts provide a space where everyone is united through their common dedication to a great band; where persons can come and surrender their hearts, bodies and minds to the music of the Architects. And for the Architects to recognize, deeply appreciate and respect this shows that even as mainstream continues to fuel highly commercialized, one hit wonders with no fan base, there are other genres still fueling the band-fan relationships. Music can still attract and affect the masses, so long as rock and hardcore exist.

….Rock on, Architects.