Four Year Strong at Academy 2 review

Image: Four Year Strong 

Sixteen years since the bands' inception, with six albums under their belt and a reputation to uphold for being one of the most exciting live pop punk bands, Four Year Strong came to Manchester's Academy 2 in celebration of the anniversary of what the band consider to be their breakthrough album, Rise or Die Trying. Tonight the band play the album that put the four piece on the pop punk map from start to finish - it was bound to go down well to the sold old crowd. 

The group bounced onto the stage full of energy and excitement - their audience reciprocating their enthusiasm through their shouts, arms outstretched and crowd surfing from the back of the room down to the front  - and began with album opener ‘The Take Over’. The shouted lyrics from both Dan and Alan are shouted back by the sizable crowd, while guitar hooks-come-breakdowns are met with head nods and foot stomps in appreciation. 

Despite knowing what songs were coming next, as well as the exact order in which they'd be performed, Four Year Strong's audience still shriek and cheer with delight as soon as the starting notes transformed into a recognisable riff or the distinct drums which signalled the intro to a ten year old song much loved by their fans.

"What's up Manchester?!" vocalist Dan O'Connor greets his crowd, before introducing 'Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die' and plunging into the distorted fast-paced riff intro of the indistinguishable song.

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With live versions of their songs, 'Wrecked 'Em? Damn Near Killed 'Em', 'Men Are From Mars, Women are From Hell' and the ridiculously catchy 'Bada Bing! Wit a Pipe!', this performance is a testament to how their breakthrough Rise or Die Trying is a timeless album. One that to this day is still celebrated among existing and retired pop punk fans alike.

Although it's not a necessity, the band make their ten year old tracks fresh and interesting by adding quirky little interludes. IN particular they kept their fans on their toes with a surprise snippet from Slayer's 'Raining Blood', and a very unexpected cover of Tears For Fears 'Everybody Wants to Rule The World' 

Although a surprise, the covers are met with a warm reception and after the completing the live incarnation of their 2007 album, the band pull out more from their extensive back catalogue. Songs from various albums, including those from their most recent self-titled album 'We All Float Down Here' and 'Who Cares?', are the bookend to a raucous album birthday party. 

The band's finale comes from the lead track of their 2010 release Enemy of the World, 'It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong Right Now', although, judging from the smiles on the faces of the bearded band, that's somewhat of an oxymoronic song title. With deafening cheers from the now sweat-clad crowd, Four Year Strong return to the stage for an encore and perform 'Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)'

Not many bands of such a specific genre can come back ten years later to perform the songs that gained them their fanbase - but Four Year Strong not only played to a completely full venue, but did so with as much energy and enthusiasm as they did a decade prior. 

Like this? Read our interview with Four Year Strong

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