As lights of green and blue crawled across the heads of the crowd, excitement radiated off the bodies and into the thick air of Saint Andrews Hall. Jessica Banks propped herself up on a barricade—the only thing separating her and the several other fans from the stage. “I’ve waited in line since 9 a.m. this morning,” Banks said. “Honestly, I’ve been a fan of Bad Suns since their first album. Their music has gotten me through a lot of hard times in my life and they have so much energy. They’re just someone I look up to.”

The indie rock band of four has carved a meaningful place into many young people’s hearts with its infectious tunes. Heavily inspired by musical pioneers from the ‘70s and ‘80s such as the Cure and Elvis Costello, the band has published songs like “Daft Pretty Boys” and “Cardiac Arrest,” which have captivated more than 1,000,000 listeners.

“The lyrics are what really pulled me in.” Banks said. “I was a freshman in high school when I found Bad Suns. When I listened to them for the first time my initial thought was ‘Where has this type of music been all my life?’ From just a line to the entire song, I could always find something to reflect on.”

Looking deeper, it’s no wonder the band tends to resonate with such young souls. A friendship blossomed between vocalist Christiano Bowmen and bassist Gavin Bennett in the seventh grade. Not long after, the pair roped Miles Morris, on drums, and Ray Libby, guitarist, into the bunch and the quartet dove into the Los Angeles music scene. Their teenage years were consumed by their music, dropping demos in mailboxes and finding their perfect sound.Bad Suns’ music reflects a time when the musicians were discovering themselves; this is why it appeals to teens who have reached a similar point in their lives.

“When my senior year ended, my parents divorced,” Banks said. “My house was constantly a screaming war zone before then, but I wasn’t really sure how to take it. I was angry and upset but relieved at the same time because it needed to happen. I ended up finding comfort in the words of these songs.”

As the final words left her mouth, the house lights were cut and the room once lit with  neon colors was cloaked in black. The diehard fans screeched at the top of their lungs as the band took the stage, opening with “Disappear Here.” As the familiar tune was pumped into the air, the crowd began dancing and singing with eyes glued to the musicians before them.

“It’s not just people standing up on stage singing songs,” Banks said. “They have a purpose and I really love that.”