It’s been five years since my first LANY show, but five years does nothing to the way a LANY concert feels as the summer air starts to settle in. It’s the electric openers that strum and kick their way into my chest as the sound systems warm up; it’s the crackling of mics as Aidan Bissett and his guitarist go face to face, pick to pick, fingers sliding down the necks of their electric guitars. It’s the way everyone smiles and screams their “I love you’s” and the way the artists point back and say, “I love you more!” It’s also the pink fluff falling off of neon pink cowboy hats embroidered with “LANY” in all caps and shiny jewels. The Anthem was alive with decorative curtains framing the stage and balcony seating, and as the curtain fell, revealing LANY’s stage setup, I had an inkling this would possibly be the most beautiful night ever. LANY’s set starts off with the title single from their newest album, “Soft.” The crowd was fluttering with excitement as frontman Paul Klein’s voice rose and settled like a layer of dust onto the tops of the audience’s heads. Drummer Jake Goss was the one to blow it all off with the heavy hits on the drumset, and as his sticks clashed with the metal cymbals, Klein’s wet, curly hair covered his face as he made his way through the song, every lyric hitting each crowd member with a different feeling. He danced with us through the first half of the set, and as we entered “Prettiest Thing I’ve Ever Seen,” the big screen showed fans and Klein alike dancing to the chorus, miming actions that correlated perfectly with the lyrics. Peace signs around the eyes when he sings “the smile that you give from the side of your eyes.” A heart made from his two hands when singing of love and a rolling of fists as he welcomes the crowd to sing along. The last three songs played—possibly my three favorites of the night—started with “‘Cause You Have To,” reminding us with a funky keyboard backtrack that romantic relationships fading out of our lives are as common as the leaves falling when the seasons change. The smoke machines on stage exude a thin layer of mist that hides Klein behind his clear piano as he plays the opening chords of “Malibu Nights.” A song, as the guy beside me claims, “literally the saddest song ever.” Klein’s gentle voice enters my ears as the tears start to blur my view of the stage. My voice is barely audible as the last song of the night, “XXL,” echoes throughout The Anthem. Klein would probably claim this song as the perfect opportunity to crowd surf and to throw himself down to see us at eye level. His bandaged arms raised the mic over his head as he grabbed onto fans arms’ and thrust them up in a thousand-man dance. D.C. misses them already. Angela Lu is a junior in the College and can’t get enough of LANY!