Against The Current exudes an aura of superstardom. From their sound to they way they command the stage, the trio screams rockstar status and is on the verge of infecting the world’s headphones. The Poughkeepsie natives released their debut album, In Our Bones, in late May, and spent a sweltering summer on the Vans Warped Tour creating a significant buzz for themselves. Now with their own headlining world tour stopping in a number of North American cities for the first time, Against The Current is well on their way to the next level.
On a quiet night in the heart of Charlotte, Against The Current invaded the The Underground and unveiled their upbeat pop-punk to an audience that desired nothing more. Front-woman Chrissy Costanza dazzled while guitarist Dan Gow and drummer Will Ferri poured raw emotion into their respective performance.
The optimistic, echoed intro of “Runaway” broke the silence as the threesome barreled onto stage, loaded with energy that immedietly influenced the crowd. Vibrant blue and pink stage lights illuminated the band as Costanza bounced around the stage with her microphone in hand. Both Gow and Ferri flanked the vocalist to the left and right and ultimately attracted an equal amount of attention while performing the undeniable crowd-pleaser.
Photos by Benjamin Robson
Between songs, Costanza chatted with her millennial audience about anything and everything - from where she bought her alien-printed t-shirt to the importance of staying hydrated. She kept the vibe light and established a high-level of friendliness with the audience that ultimately kept the show free-flowing.
The crowd danced and enjoyed the up-tempo “Talk,” “Young & Relentless” and “Running With The Wild Things” before slowing down with “In Our Bones.” Costanza sat back on a black stool and crooned into her silver microphone. With her eyes closed, the lead singer struck every note flawlessly while the audience clapped along to the beat. The performance left the crowd breathless who struggled to hold up their cell phones (with a few exceptions) due to the level of intimacy that Against The Current created.
The trio reestablish the lively atmosphere that the band opened to with “Wasteland” and “Another You (Another Way)” from their 2014 EP Infinity. With dynamic lighting enhancing the presentation, the audience’s participation and interaction with the band rapidly increased. Costanza sauntered along the barricade and extended both her microphone and hands out into the sea of fans, allowing them to sing the song. With an expected encore on the horizon, the vocalist returned to the stage to cap off the night with two nostalgic ATC songs: “Dreaming Alone” and “Gravity” - both of which left a smile with the faithful audience.
The hunch that Against The Current is only one major tour away from blowing up (much like label mates Twenty One Pilots) presently exists. While some bands stand still and incessantly perform the same setlist throughout the course of multiple tours, Against The Current pulls out all the stops in creating a unique concert each time they take the stage. They’re built for amphitheaters and arenas and only time separates the trio from renowned recognition.
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