FOUR CHORD MUSIC FEST DAY 1
BY ANNA PORCELLADay 1 of the 12th annual installment of Four Chord Music Fest has officially kicked off. The Pittsburgh-based alternative music festival opened the gates of F.N.B. Stadium this morning to thousands of fans, some traveling from just down the road and others from across the country. The stadium, which typically houses the Pittsburgh Riverhounds soccer team, is located on the scenic South Shore, providing beautiful views overlooking the Monongahela River and the downtown city skyline. Two side-by-side stages dominate the field, named for sponsors Smartpunk Records and Biggies Bullies. Merch stands and local vendor and nonprofit tents lined the perimeter, including Punk Rock Saves Lives, Misfit Coven, Sacred Form Tattoo Studio, and the Biggies Bullies dunk tank, which allowed fans to attempt to drop several featured band members in the water. With thirteen artists spanning ten hours of music, Day 1 of Four Chord was packed full of excitement.
Traditionally, Four Chord’s lineup has primarily consisted of pop-punk and genre adjacent acts - previous headliners include A Day to Remember, Yellowcard, Taking Back Sunday, and All-American Rejects. This year, they have expanded to hardcore and metal, inviting bands that have never been on a Four Chord stage and drawing in a new circle of fans with a heavier bill for Day 1. This year’s Four Chord was both a redefining moment while reaffirming what they’ve always stood for: supporting independent, DIY, and local music.
Friday began with two local acts, the first of which was Pain Clinic, an intense Pittsburgh-based hardcore five-piece whose debut record Love Hurts released earlier this summer. It was only 1:30 when they took to the stage, but there was already a significant crowd gathered for their local acts. Frontman Ty Dawson gave a shoutout to his city: “Pittsburgh hardcore represent!”
Next is Facewreck, another Pittsburgh hardcore band who infuses their sound with hip-hop elements. Frontman AJ Worrell also gave praise to the city, stating “you put me on a stadium stage for probably the only time in my life, with Pittsburgh as the backdrop, expect a speech,” as he spoke about the benefits of the festival to the city and the local organizations and non-profits.
Following Facewreck is Thousand Below, a post-hardcore four-piece based out of San Diego. The band is known for emotionally charged lyricism and an electronic-forward approach to hardcore, singer James Deberg showing off his range with beautiful vocals followed by screams.
Next is Militarie Gun, alternative rock with strong hardcore influence that combines the urgency of hardcore instrumental with more melodic vocals. One of the newer bands on the bill, having formed in 2020 out of Los Angeles, Militarie Gun has already begun carving a space in the scene for themselves. Their stop at Four Chord is part of their 20 Songs for 20 Dollars Tour, a tour dedicated to providing fans with affordable tickets during tough times.
Haywire had one of the most enthusiastic sets and crowds of the entire day. The Boston punk/hardcore four-piece is also a newer act, formed in 2023. The band entered the stage to Sweet Caroline before breaking into their non-stop set. Frontman Austin Sparkman connected with the crowd as he spoke about his sobriety and his mom, who was in attendance watching the band play for the very first time. He later gave her another shoutout, thanking her for letting them play shows in her basement for years.
Next is Bayside, a rock band from Queens with elements of both hardcore and pop-punk, longstanding since their formation in 2000. The band entered to the sound of a beating heart, starting off slow and steady before speeding up erratically. Though the crowds had by no means been slow moving all day, it was this set where things really started to pick up.
Following Bayside is Counterparts, melodic metalcore from Canada, who have garnered themselves a loyal fanbase over fifteen years with their transparency and honesty in their songwriting and as individuals.
Superheaven, from nearby in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, blends rock with grunge riffs and shoegaze vocals. With a ten year gap in between their second and third album, their return to music solidified them as one of the most influential modern grunge acts. Though not as fast-paced as some of the other acts on the bill, their sound was no less impactful.
Next is We Came as Romans, metalcore from Michigan, dedicated their set to artists, dreamers, and creatives. Frontman Dave Stephens explained that the band has been at it for a long time (since 2005 to be exact) and it hasn’t always been an easy road. “Learn from your failures, get back up, and keep trying.”
After is Saosin, post hardcore from Orange County, another staple of the early 2000s scene. Known for their 2006 self-titled album (“We put out a record a while ago with a beetle on the cover. Maybe you’ve heard of it.”) The crowd roared along to hits “Seven Years” and “You’re Not Alone,” as well as “Starting Over Again,” the first new single the band has released in ten years. The band will embark on a 20 year anniversary tour for their self-titled album over the next two months.
Kublai Khan is a metalcore four-piece from Texas (evident with frontman Matt Honeycutt’s thick southern accent) formed in 2009, whose intense sound is often punctuated by barking from the band or the crowd. They take pride in their hometown, asking, “Do y’all know where we’re from? How many of you are from West Virginia? How about Ohio? What about right here in Pennsylvania? Tonight we are all from Pittsburgh!”
Rounding out the night for the Smartpunk stage is Underoath, another act celebrating 20 years of their most iconic album. Define the Great Line is a post-hardcore staple, along with its predecessor They’re Only Chasing Safety. Since their formation in 1997, Underoath was always ahead of the curve, helping shape the post-hardcore scene and define the genre. Since then they’ve released ten studio albums, providing their fans with a set full of a variety of hits.
Day 1’s headlining conclusion is Knocked Loose, a hardcore five-piece from Kentucky. Formed in 2013, the band has recently hit their stride with their third LP You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To, projecting them into festival headlining slots and critical acclaim, including a Grammy nomination. Known for their chaotic live shows, intense instrumentals, and the distinct voice of frontman Bryan Garris, Knocked Loose is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in the genre of all time. The band takes to the stage as an ominous glowing cross (iconography from their album, which touches on mortality, grappling with religion, loss, and grief) casts the members in an eerie silhouette. Opening with “Blinding Faith” sets the crowd off immediately, and for the next hour and fifteen minutes there isn’t a single moment to rest. Pyro continuously punctuates particularly heavy moments in songs, lighting up the sea of crowdsurfers. Set highlights include “God Knows” featuring a drum line, the ever iconic “Counting Worms,” and the wall of death in “Everything is Quiet Now.”
Alternative music is a wide genre umbrella that can take many forms and houses many subcultures. Hardcore itself includes microgenres like metalcore, beatdown, and screamo. Connecting all of them is community - a mutual understanding and respect for like-minded individuals. When someone falls in the pit, there are immediately several hands there to pick them up. There is a mutual responsibility to traverse a crowdsurfer from one end of the pit to the other. Typically, the genre doesn’t quite hit mainstream markets, which is what makes breakout acts like Knocked Loose so special. Hardcore shows tend to be played in sweaty basement venues, fast-paced and aggressive music matching the movement of a mosh pit. Four Chord’s move to metal and hardcore propped up 13 acts on a festival stage, putting up and coming acts like Militarie Gun and Haywire or local acts like Pain Clinic and Facewreck next to legacy acts like Saosin and Underoath or genre giants like Knocked Loose. Pittsburgh showed out for their local bands, arriving early to catch them alongside some of the biggest names in the scene. While Day 2 is a return to Four Chord’s standard pop punk bill, Day 1’s departure from tradition provided a fresh take on Pittsburgh’s beloved festival but provided equally as much energy and excitement.
