CONCERT REVIEW: Against The Current’s Live Show Reaches Exhilarating New Heights

Against The Current, a band that has been making waves since 2011, returned to the heart of Amsterdam at Melkweg. Having visited the Netherlands last year in Tilburg, the trio, now far removed from their YouTube origins, showcased their evolution into a powerhouse of pop, rock, and indie sounds.

For us, the night kicked off with LØLØ as the direct support, warming up the crowd with a setlist that set the perfect tone for what was to come. Drawing on her own unique style, LØLØ, who also supported Leah Kate in the same venue, almost exactly a year ago, seamlessly blended her music, creating an atmosphere that was both vibrant and introspective. Speaking of Leah Kate, guess who graced the audience with a surprise visit during debbie downer, a song which is originally featured by Maggie Lindemann. There’s not much to guess, I literally just gave it away: Leah Kate!

During the song, pom poms were handed out to people in the audience as, in LØLØ‘s words, “we were now all part of her emo cheerleader squad”.

After waiting for only 27 minutes following LØLØ‘s set, the lights turned dark and Against The Current took the stage to a roar of applause. After their journey from YouTube sensations to signing with Fueled by Ramen, in 2022, they surprised fans with the announcement that they were now independent. So far they have released three singles independently: blindfolded, good guy and silent stranger, which they all did live this night.

Against The Current effortlessly weaved through their setlist, delivering a mix of fan favourites, songs from their very first EPs Infinity and Gravity and of course, Legends Never Die and Wildfire, both songs which were made in collaboration with League of Legends Championships.

Around the 45-minute mark, the band surprised the audience with an intimate acoustic interlude, showcasing a different dimension of their musical skills, treating the crowd to a stripped-down rendition of Almost Forgot, with the audience screaming the FUCKs of the lyrics as loud as ever.

The band then started the heartfelt opening chords of Chasing Ghosts, still unplugged, but after the second chorus, the song burst back to life. Against The Current skillfully turned it into a powerful build-up, letting out the full impact of the original version.

The night was a celebration of musical evolution, and Against The Current left no doubt that they are not just a YouTube phenomenon of the past but a force to be reckoned with in the present and future of the music scene.