Four chord music fest day 2
BY ANNA PORCELLADay 1 of Four Chord Music Fest was packed full of heavy breakdowns, two-steps and spin kicks, screaming vocals, and plenty of excitement, and Day 2 promises a day packed just as full. But where Friday was metal and hardcore, Saturday is pop-punk nostalgia and the classic Four Chord bill that Pittsburgh has come to love. Fans return to F.N.B. Stadium to another beautifully sunny day, decked out in knee-length converse and fingerless gloves in their best scene fashion. The barricades are lined with posters of lineups of Four Chords past, naming fellow pop-punk giants like Blink-182, Yellowcard, and Simple Plan. Of the almost thirty bands year 12 is adding to the roster, fourteen of them play throughout Saturday.
First on today’s bill is Heading North, a Pittsburgh pop-punk band whose debut EP We’re So Back was released in 2024, Notably, this is the only band on the bill fronted by non-men. In between songs the band expressed their gratitude to the crowd for showing up early to support, stating that this was already a special show for them as well as it being their singer Asha Edson’s birthday. They ended their set with three things: “trans rights, f*ck ICE, and free Palestine!”
Next is Don’t Panic, a pop-punk band with electronic elements from nearby in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The first of several Four Chord returners on the bill, Don’t Panic is a classic set for yearly attendees.
One of the highlights of the day is easily Keep Flying - from New York/New Jersey, the five-piece pop-punk band has also become a Four Chord staple. They’re known for their incorporation of horns into their sound and their boundless energy, with frontman John James Ryan Jr. bouncing across the stage while playing the saxophone. Keep Flying has been on every single Four Chord lineup (with the exception of Four Chord 8) since its conception, and thanked Pittsburgh for feeling like home. “DIY ‘til I actually die!”
Next is Patent Pending, yet another Four Chord staple, formed in 2001. With their classic early 2000s pop punk sound and their humorous quips in between songs, this was an easily enjoyable set. Frontman Joe Ragosta joked, “if you’ve been early to Four Chord before you’ve probably seen our set, and for that I apologize. But this is my fourth favorite day of the year . . . yes, fourth, I have kids, you understand.”
Next is, of course, Eternal Boy - fronted by Four Chord founder Rishi Bahl. The Pittsburgh pop-punk trio recently saw some lineup changes, but fans were treated to an appearance from their original bassist. Rishi stated how much he loved putting on this festival and had a number of people to thank for helping make it so successful. “We don’t make money on this. We do this because of what we believe punk rock did for bands like us. We do this because we love to, and it’s our turn to pass the torch.” They ended their set thanking “the greatest city on earth!”
Afterwards is Hit the Lights, a five-piece from Ohio that is, in my opinion, highly underrated. Active since 2003, their pop-punk style with hardcore inspired breakdowns, they provide an edgier version of the early 2000s sound.
Following them is Driveways, a Boston-based pop-punk/post hardcore band, who had one of the most energetic crowds of the day. The band has been active since 2016 but carries the classic early 2000s sound, crowdsurfers flying through the air for the entire set. “This is an incredible lineup…having Driveways doesn’t help,” joked frontman Pat Finnegan, though the crowd’s enthusiasm begged to differ.
Next is Finch, a post-hardcore/emo band from California, formed in 1999. After taking a hiatus in 2016, the band has returned to the touring circuit and has been hitting a number of alternative festivals as of late.
Afterwards is Cartel, a pop punk from Georgia, whose fifth LP Learning How to Cope dropped just over a week ago. Another highly underrated act from the early 2000s, Cartel boasts consistently good releases and excellent live performances.
Next is Motion City Soundtrack, an iconic rock band formed in 1997, sits at the intersection of pop-punk, emo, and indie. Another band who took a hiatus in 2016, they reunited in 2020 and released their seventh studio album The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World in 2025. They played a mix of songs from across their discography, and it is great to see them onstage once again.
Following them is Mom Jeans, alt rock/midwest emo from California, formed in 2014. They’re known for interjecting their set with humor, keeping things lighthearted amongst their otherwise heavily emotional lyricism. The band entered to Travis Scott’s “FE!N,” and launched burgers into the crowd midway through their set. This against the backdrop of a beautiful sunset decorating the Pittsburgh skyline in the distance made this an incredibly memorable set.
Next is State Champs, the pop-punk icons from New York. The four-piece recently celebrated ten years of their acclaimed record Around the World and Back, and fans were treated to a playthrough of the entire album for their set, including hits “Secrets” and “All You Are is History.” After confirming they had a little bit of extra time at the end of their set, they provided a bonus performance of “Everybody but You,” a fun anthemic track that had the entire crowd moving.
Next is Boston rock band Boys Like Girls, who recently celebrated 20 years of their self-titled debut record. Charismatic performances and pyrotechnics combined with nostalgic hits had the entire field of fans dancing. “Let me set the scene for you,” said frontman Martin Johnson, “The year is 2006, and you’re in your car, the one with the broken AC. The long aux cable is connected to an ipod nano, which you’ve illegally downloaded music onto. And it’s playing Boys. Like. Girls.” The band ended their set with the iconic “The Great Escape,” which they played twice - “one for your phones, and one for yourselves. Party like it’s 2006!”
Closing out the Smartpunk Stage is Mayday Parade, another iconic pop-punk band who also recently hit their 20 year anniversary. The beautiful vocals (and hair) of frontman Derek Sanders carries the crowd through the nostalgic set, including “Jersey” and “Oh Well, Oh Well,” making it easy to see why they have remained one of the most beloved bands of this scene. State Champs’ Derek DiScanio joined the stage (coined the Derek Sandwich) for their final song, the iconic “Jaime All Over.”
Day 2’s headliner is Pierce the Veil, the post-hardcore/emo trio from San Diego. They enter the stage awash with red lights and stage fog as the glowing figure of a girl floating in the air appears on screen - iconography from their iconic 2012 record Collide With the Sky. Frontman Vic Fuentes appears through the fog holding a lit up megaphone, addressing the audience directly through “May These Noises Startle You In Your Sleep Tonight,” a spoken word and instrumental track, which seamlessly segues into the fast-paced “Hell Above.” The rest of the band, which consists of Jaime Preciado on bass, Tony Perry on guitar, and touring member Lionel Robinson on drums, are energetic and charismatic (particularly Jaime, who sports an infectious smile and dance moves). They played a track from each of their five records as well as a cover of Pixies’ “Where is My Mind,” providing something for fans of all ages, whether you’ve been there from day 1 or just discovered them yesterday. They close their set with “King For a Day,” one of the biggest and most iconic scene tracks of all time, a fitting end to this incredible weekend.
There are two things about this festival that, in my opinion, can’t be overstated: its importance to the Pittsburgh alternative music scene, and how impressive it is that a festival of this size remains independent. Almost every band on the bill made a comment onstage with praise for the city, for Rishi, for the lineup, or the festival as a whole. A large chunk of attendees are yearly returners, who come no matter what the lineup looks like just because they’re local and love live music. And this is a festival that loves music too - there’s no overlapping sets, only about ten minutes in between each act, providing fans with a jam packed weekend of music. Four Chord’s determination to put their city and the music first is part of why it has remained successful as an independently owned festival. Their DIY ethos is at the heart of this festival, and it is evident in the way they operate.
Overall, I’d say this was a very successful Four Chord 12. The venue was beautiful, the lineup was incredible, and the crowds were full of lovely like-minded people. For future Four Chords I would love to see metal and hardcore bands continue to be featured; they provided a fun variety and are hugely entertaining to watch. I always look forward to seeing which local acts are playing each year, as well as memorable returners like Keep Flying or Patent Pending. I would love to see more women on the bill; there are so many incredibly talented women in the genre that deserve to be propped up on a festival stage too. This is a festival I greatly enjoy attending as a fan and a photographer, and I look forward to Four Chord 13!
