Hardcore Act Four Year Strong Kicks Off Tour with a Bang

Kicking off their tour with the first date here at the Grog Shop last night, Four Year Strong threw old and new songs together for the perfect mixture and perfect energy. Playing some tunes off their new self-titled album for the first time provided a breath of fresh air.

After a bit of a delay thanks to some technical difficulties, the band finally took the stage to loud cheers from the crowd. While the band sounded amazing from start to finish, the performance was plagued with some technical hiccups that were really out of the band’s control. Alan Day's amp cut out and the lights going out because rowdy crowd members started pulling wires from the ceiling. 
When there wasn't a glitch in the system holding back Four Year Strong, their performance was flawless. Older songs such as “Maniac (R.O.D.),” “Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die” and “Bada Bing! Wit a Pipe!” are crowd favorites that always deliver. The absence of synth in these songs made no difference and almost went unnoticed. The crowd was also treated with the first ever live performance of “I Hold Myself in Contempt” off the band's newest album.

One of the special things about when Four Year Strong rolls through the Grog Shop is just how crazy it can get. During their final song, “Wasting Time(Eternal Summer),” the crowd rushed the stage. The sound started to cut as members in the band became completely engulfed in the frantic crowd. Standing shoulder to shoulder with their favorite artist, fans were able to sing along right with them. It showed the guys' connection with the fans as they encouraged the behavior instead of shooing them off the stage.

A frantic and energetic performance from Four Year Strong will be something that sticks with fans for years to come. A solid performance from supporting acts helped build the atmosphere and leave fans with even more to remember. Openers Defeater helped liven the crowd up. The band's melodic hardcore sound has a distinctive sound and the harsh vocals on top of the mellow music provided a great chance for the crowd to scream along to the songs. Defeater has an amazing sound live, and vocalist Derek Archambault's screams were just as raw as on the record.