Live Music: Citizen

Citizen has spent more than a decade carving out a place in the modern alternative and post-hardcore scene with emotionally charged songwriting, huge guitar tones, and an intensity that hits just as hard live as it does on record.

Formed in Toledo, Ohio, the band broke through with the acclaimed album Youth before expanding its sound on releases like Everybody Is Going to Heaven, Life in Your Glass World, and Calling the Dogs.

Their music blends melodic rock, grunge, emo, and post-hardcore into songs that are both introspective and explosive.

Onstage, Citizen delivers a powerful, immersive show built around driving rhythms, soaring guitars, and the unmistakable vocals of Mat Kerekes.

Fan favorites like “The Night I Drove Alone,” “How Does It Feel?,” “Sleep,” and “If You’re Lonely” have made the band a staple of the alternative rock touring circuit.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering them for the first time, a Citizen show is an emotional, high-energy experience that showcases one of the genre’s most consistently evolving bands.