Some concerts are fun, others are memorable, and then there are nights like Citizen’s show in Cologne, Germany. With Modern Color as the support act, the evening delivered everything you could hope for: incredible guitar sounds, relentless crowd energy, emotional moments and plenty of stage dives.
Modern Color kicked things off, and they certainly did not disappoint. Having wished to see them again ever since they were supposed to play alongside Scowl at Gebäude 9 in June 2025, I was especially excited to finally catch them live. Their set was nothing short of amazing. I was immediately blown away by their guitar sounds, and the singer Fleming Valenzuela made sure the crowd kept moving throughout the performance. Even before their song ‘Pale’, the energy in the room was already building, with the first stage dives setting the tone for what was to come. They more or less left the stage quietly after delivering a fantastic set, but they definitely made their mark.
Then it was Citizen’s turn, and things got even wilder. From the opening song onwards, the stage was practically open to the crowd, with stage divers flying over the audience throughout the entire set. Mat Kerekes, the band’s singer, constantly interacted with and animated the crowd, keeping the energy levels high from start to finish. During ‘Is It My Brain’, one particularly enthusiastic stage diver even managed to destroy my lens cap. A small sacrifice for a great concert, I guess!
What made the show particularly special was the balance between Citizen’s energetic, hard-hitting tracks and their slower, more emotional songs. The transitions between explosive mosh-pit moments and quieter, more heartfelt sections made the entire performance feel incredibly dynamic.
Before leaving the stage for the encore, Citizen made sure to give Modern Color a well-deserved shoutout. And then came the final highlight: ‘The Night I Drove Alone’ from their 2013 debut album Youth. The crowd went absolutely wild. Some people were visibly crying, while others threw themselves back into the chaos of the mosh pit. It was the perfect ending to an already incredible night.
Citizen did not disappoint, and neither did Modern Color. From start to finish, this was a show filled with energy, passion and genuine emotion. If you ever get the chance to see Citizen live, do yourself a favour and take it. It’s an experience everyone should have for themselves.
