LA natives Hollywatr opened the night with high energy and heavy riffs. When the vocalist asked how many in the crowd were hearing them for the first time, a sea of hands shot up. Early attempts to start a pit fizzled out, but as the sound got heavier with each song, a small circle started spinning before the stage. And despite not being familiar with the band before, the crowd ended up loving their sound and were rocking out and having a good time.
ERRA came next and took the energy right to the top. A majority of the nearly sold-out crowd showed up early to bang their heads and swing their fists to the nasty growls and innovative rhythms. With commanding stage presence, they owned the room and took everyone in it on a journey. The colorful light towers served as a powerful backdrop, creating futuristic and vibrant visuals worthy of a headlining set.
When it was finally time for the main guys of the night, the fans were buzzing with excitement. The intro kicked in, strobing white lights lit up the room, and to a wave of deafening cheers, Architects stormed the stage.
Vocalist Sam Carter greeted the crowd by declaring that he "owned everyone’s asses" for the next hour and a half. And, as if to prove his command, he told the entire room to get down on the ground, which they did without hesitation. The moment everyone jumped back up, the energy exploded and never dipped until the final note of the night.
As a surprise guest, Architects brought out Caleb Shomo from Beartooth to join them for a song, and the crowd absolutely loved every moment. Sam couldn’t stop praising Caleb, saying the world needs more positive and genuine people like him.
Throughout the night, Sam consistently thanked the fans for coming out and supporting the band. Despite Architects’ long career, he said they still feel like they’re just getting started. Introducing the song "Everything Ends," he shared how it recently hit number 7 on the US charts and talked about how exciting that milestone is for them. He encouraged everyone to keep calling radio stations and requesting their songs to keep the momentum going.
Architects kept the setlist well balanced, highlighting tracks from their latest album, The Sky, The Earth, & All Between. Sam’s voice possesses impressive versatility, effortlessly shifting from soft, melodic notes to powerful, sustained growls that echoed through the walls of the Wiltern, hitting you right in the bones.
At the hour mark, the lights came back on, and the band left the stage to the absolute uproar from the audience. And even after their return, the fans would not let them pause or take a breather, determinedly demanding more. The Brits loved the vibe, expressing their gratitude for the crowd’s energy, hoping the audience felt them giving their all in return, and promising to come back to LA soon. The night ended with their banger "Animals," a perfect conclusion to an amazing evening.
