Yi Yuen - Janelle Ting

Robert Bedont
Music 1020
23 November, 2015
My Night with Four Year Strong
It was the 9th of September, it is the day where I finally get to see Four Year Strong, in
person, live! I have known about them since 2009 but did not really become a huge fan until
2013. They have never played a show in Malaysia and they probably never will because they are
almost unheard of over there. So this opportunity means a lot to me, it is surreal!
A little bit about Four Year Strong and why I love them so much: they seem to know
exactly what I like. Their style features involve an " aggressive and melody-riddled [blend] of
hardcore, emo pop, and pop-punk." They have two very talented vocalists who work very well
together; they take turns to sing and do very well-crafted, beautiful harmonies, all that while the
both of them are playing the guitar. Their rhythm guitar has a wonderful, heavy, distorted chunk,
with the bass, and drums going in perfect sync. Their fun, uplifting lyrics and melody, coupled
with the rage-filled singing really gets you going; I highly recommend it as gym music!
I bought the tickets online the night before, and I only paid about $21 after tax, which is
dirt cheap compared to Malaysia! The tickets are "will call", so I will be picking them up at the
venue. I took an Uber and I arrived at Kilby Court at 5 pm. I still cannot shake off that "kiasu"
(scared to lose) Malaysian mentality where people que up hours and hours before the show just
to get in front of the line for a chance to get as close to the stage as possible; our favorite bands
or artistes don't really come to this side of the world very often. I was the third person that ever
arrived, so it was a huge relief and I really appreciate the people's chill attitude. Doors only open

at 6, so I waited around and chilled with the two other people there as we gushed about Four
Year Strong and how much we loved them as more people started rolling in. Once in a while,
some of the band members would pop out, walk around freely, and hang out with the fans and
talk. I couldn't believe it, it was amazing, they are actually being like normal people! I only
gathered enough composure to say a few words to Dan, one of the guitarist and vocalists, and
asked for a picture with him.
When the doors opened, I collected my ticket (which is just a plain neon orange
wristband, I was looking forward to something more official-looking), and went inside. I saw the
entire place and I am pleasantly surprised. The whole place is vandalized, or decorated, depends
on how you look at it. It is mired with graffiti and stickers, very reminiscent of CBGB &
OMFUG's setup and atmosphere. There's the patio in the middle, the hall on the left, the merch
booth on the right, and the restroom is located outside, also heavily decorated. It is a very small
and dingy venue, but the band chose to perform here because they want to feel closer and have
more interaction with the fans. I checked out the merchandise booth for a bit and went to the hall
to secure my spot next to the stage. The hall is extremely tiny and is basically made out of
plywood and cement, they have a very small stage with a minimal setup. There was minimal
security and there weren't any barriers placed either.
The first opening act came on at 7 pm, it was Speak Low If You Speak Love. According
to their band bio, they "[fuse] elements of Evan Weiss-laden melodies with the pop sensibility of
Taylor Swift...[producing] a genuinely new outlook on the clich acoustic scene." Their music is
pleasant and generally enjoyed by everyone; it was upbeat, chill, and melodic. The guitar leads
the melody with a bright, "wub wub" sound and the whole band follows after. Their songs are
generally mid-tempo and some songs are acoustic. They played about five songs.

The next opening act is a melodic hardcore band called Defeater. Their band bio
describes them as "challeng[ing] the conventions of [hardcore] by crafting music that takes an
old-school formula and pushes it in new and ambitious directions without sacrificing an ounce of
aggression." I did not really like this band very much. I liked the heavy, distorted sound of the
rhythm guitar, but the vocalist is just barking throughout the whole song. I like screamo, but I
believe that only a little is enough to add a nice touch. Plus the crowd was out of control with
this one; they were moshing hard, throwing themselves onto people to crowd-surf, climbing the
ceiling, and flooding onto the stage getting all up into the band member's faces. It was rough and
a girl my size cannot possibly handle all that, I stayed at the side under the safety of my friend
who was acting as a barrier. Their set lasted about half an hour.
The last opening act is a metalcore band called Expire. Their style is described as
"easily...mistaken for a '90s hardcore band with their tough-guy swagger and punishing
breakdowns... evok[ing] the crunching sound...pushing hardcore punk to previously unseen
levels of aggression." For this one, I observed the set from outside because I no longer want to be
kicked in the face, shoved, and trampled on. They are somewhat similar to Defeater but are
lighter on the screaming and more melodic. Their set also lasted about half an hour.
Finally, it was Four Year Strong's turn to take the stage! They were the star of the night,
what everyone have been waiting for. I easily got back to the front of the stage because some
people left after the opening acts were done. That's okay, more space for me! Back to the act,
they had a weird opening with a guy in a zebra morp suit, dancing around with a red balloon,
then he pops the balloon, creating an explosion of glitter. The ecstatic crowd was cheering for the
guys to come on stage. Shortly after, they came on stage strumming the riff of their first single
from their new album - "We All Float Down Here", people recognized the riff right away and lost

their minds and started head-banging and singing along. There was a lot of pushing going on but
the crowd was much more respectful this time. I was even pushed onto the stage quite a number
of times but I didn't mind; they didn't mind. They played a total of 16 songs: We All Float Down
Here; What The Hell Is A Gigawatt?; Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die; I'm A Big,
Bright Shining Star; Abandon Ship or Abandon All Hope; I Hold Myself In Contempt; Stuck In
The Middle; Gravity; Find My Way Back; Who Cares?; Bada Bing Wit' A Pipe!; Go Down In
History; It Must really Suck To Be Four Year Strong Right Now, The Take Over, Maniac (Rise or
Die), Wasting Time (Eternal Summer). However, with the delay from the 3 opening acts, they
seem to have sped up the tempo of all their songs. Due to the poor acoustics of the hall, most of
the time the vocals cannot be heard because the instruments are too overwhelmingly loud.
Nevertheless, people including me didn't care and are having the time of their lives anyway.
It was by far the best concert experience I have ever had. I got to talk to them, I got a
picture, a high five, and a pick; I got more than what I hoped for, it was unforgettable!