Arm’s Length, Koyo, Shoreline and Ben Quad Prove the Power of the Small Stage
Arm’s Length, Koyo, Shoreline and Ben Quad turned a small venue in Cologne into a room full of noise, movement and shared voices. A four-band bill is not something you see often on small venue tours anymore, which made this night feel special from the start. Even though the show began at 19:45 instead of the planned 20:00, the space was already busy early on. What followed was almost four hours of music that moved from emotional singalongs to full hardcore mayhem.
Ben Quad opened the night with their first-ever show in Germany. It did not feel like a typical opening set. A large part of the audience was already inside and many people sang along to full verses. For a venue of this size, the pit was huge. Edgar ‘Shredgar’ Viveros, lead guitar, stood out with strong stage presence and constant movement. Before the second to last song, lead singer Sam Wegrzynski, shared that the track used to have a different name and is now simply called ‘It’s Just a Title’. Small moments like this made the set feel personal. The crowd reaction was warm and loud and Ben Quad left a strong impression. For me personally, they were one of the highlights of the evening and definitely a band to watch for.
Shoreline followed at 20:30 and kept the energy high. Vocalist Hansol Seung spoke about the first time talking German on stage this tour and described the run of shows as a blessing. Many fans had travelled from Münster and nearby areas, which made the atmosphere feel close and supportive. The moshpit grew quickly. At the same time, Hansol addressed a serious topic, pointing out that FLINTA bands are still not booked often enough and that this tour’s lineup featured only male bands. It was an honest comment that added weight to the set. Shoreline also spoke about their upcoming record, set for release on March 13. Copies were already available at the merch table, giving fans an early chance to pick it up. They also announced their release show at Gebäude 9 in October, inviting the crowd to come back and celebrate the album with them.
Koyo started at 21:15, and the mood in the room shifted again. A large circle pit formed at the front, creating a classic hardcore setting. The crowd became rougher, with spin kicks, stage dives and fans grabbing the microphone during singalongs. The mix of melody and aggression worked well live. New songs like ‘What I’m Worth’ were played alongside older material. The band closed with ‘Ten Digits Away’, ending a set that felt intense and physical from start to finish.
Arm’s Length finally took the stage at 22:15. Having seen them the day before in Eindhoven, the difference in crowd energy was clear. From the first single of their second album, the room erupted. Stage dives started immediately, and the audience sang so loudly that at times they almost drowned out the band. Singer and guitarist Allen Steinberg reflected on playing the same venue in May 2023 as support for Hot Mulligan, calling it one of their best past shows. Expectations were high, and they delivered.
Allen also mentioned that bassist Ben Greenblatt was not on this tour and that Collin Hanes of Bearings filled in. Before playing ‘Tough Love’, Allen asked the crowd about their favorite country song. Some people replied that there is not much “real” country music around here, which made him laugh. He then mentioned ‘Life Is a Highway’ by Tom Cochrane, and when a fan shouted for a cover, the band surprised everyone by playing part of it on the spot. It was not on the setlist and felt completely spontaneous — and yes, that fan was me.
After ‘Morning Person’, which Allen Steinberg once described as his personal favorite Arm’s Length song, I had to make a quick trip to the cloakroom. The venue is known for long waiting times, so it felt safer to grab my things before the very end. From the back of the room, while taking some final crowd shots, I listened to ‘The World’. Even from there, the energy was overwhelming. I genuinely felt this could already be my favourite show of the year. I had been waiting for it for two years, ever since being with the band at Slam Dunk North and South in 2024, and the anticipation made the experience even more meaningful.
‘The World’ seemed like the final song. The band left the stage but the crowd immediately began chanting for one more. For the encore, they returned with ‘Overture’, the opening track from their debut album. It felt like a full-circle moment, ending the night with the song that once started everything for them.
The show ran until around 23:40, one of the longest set times I have experienced at a regular club show. It was easily one of my favourite concerts in the past few years — full of movement, emotion and a crowd that sometimes sounded louder than the band itself.
