As the intensity of the sun finally softened on ACL concertgoers Saturday afternoon, the T-Mobile stage brought the heat with ACL first-timers, Pierce the Veil, in the midst of their I Can’t Hear You tour. PTV was able to pack just as much passion into their one-hour set as their longer shows, making for an insanely fun debut that was absolutely worth the wait.

Lead singer Vic Fuentes not only incorporates his Mexican roots into PTV’s music, but he also uses it as a means to excite and bring together crowds. A chorus of fans sang along to the opening tune of Vincente Fernandez’s “El Rey” before the band launched into one of the head-banging riffs on their newest album. The atmosphere instantly shifted from anticipation to full-on excitement from the crowd, reflecting the high energy of the members on stage. From recent hits like “Pass the Nirvana” to old fan favorites like “Hell Above,” the audience remained enraptured by drummer Loniel Robinson, bassist Jaime Preciado, guitarist Tony Perry, and their instrumental prowess.

Edgy graphics following the lyrics and rhythmic light patterns brought more life to the stage, a welcome visual representation of Pierce the Veil’s alternative nature. The big screens displayed fans screaming every word, decked out in PTV merchandise, with the cameraman highlighting several crying fans moved by the deeply emotional lyrics and hard-hitting guitar of “Emergency Contact” and “Hold On Till May,” showing the tight-knit community their music has built (I won’t lie – I cried too).

With the set coming to an end, Fuentes expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to play at ACL for the first time. For their final song, the group played their most popular hit, “King For a Day,” aided by thousands of people screaming the lyrics in the audience. By the end of their set, the only thing left to ask for was more.