Four Year Strong

I've been a fan of Four Year Strong for a long time and they never fail to give a great live performance. Just four normal guys singing and playing some of the most energetic pop-punk you've ever heard. They don't need any tricks or gimmicks to help them out. No auto-tune, backing tracks or any of that garbage.

If you love to go to shows with moshing, stage diving, crowd surfing and tons of sing alongs go to a Four Year strong show. You're doing it wrong if you don't leave covered in another persons sweat!

For a pop-punk band Four Year Strong has some pretty intricate riffs especially when you consider the fact that both of the vocalists are singing and playing guitar at the same time. Dan and Alan never miss a note on either end of the spectrum and pull off a flawless performance every time I've seen them. Hitting harmonies that you wouldn't believe are possible. You always know you're they're going to rock your socks off. They make you feel like you're back in high school with no care or responsibilities and just hit you with a huge wave of nostalgia.

Silverstein has their sound down to a formula. There is little fluctuation in their 10 + year spanning career, but that is okay. They know where their strong suits lie and have perfected it to the nth degree. That's not to say they have fallen into complacency. Rather they have developed a confidence and intimate understanding of the direction they want to take. Listening to their first album "When Broken Is Easily Fixed" to their latest "This is How the Wind Shifts" it is easy to detect that much of their ethos and style remains in tact; however a leap in production and overall "tightness" as a band can just as easily be detected.
They are group known for their work ethic and have frequented the touring circuit since their formation. This is apparent in the professionalism and precision of their live shows. It is amazing to see the band at work. Their coordination is unmatched as well as the amount of emotional output they invest in their performance.
Silverstein was one of the first bands I saw live and to tell the truth I was a bit nervous to go. I thought I would get mangled in one of the mosh pits that so frequently erupts at their shows. I wasn't too far from being wrong. As they opened with "Smashed In to Pieces" the crowd turned into a frenzy blur, which persisted through out the show and ended with my brother passing out after "My Heart Bleeds No More" probably due to over-exhaustion, but it could have also been because he got punched in the face.
Next time I saw them the show was just as frenetic if not more. It was almost impossible to keep track of all that was going on in the venue. I was absolutely mesmerized by the sheer dexterity of drummer Paul Koehler. It was as if he was programmed before each show never to miss a beat. But my concentration on one member soon shifted to the next as the show progressed. It was hard to ignore the bass player Billy especially when he was playing his instrument while crowding surfing among the hord of people and Shane is without a doubt one of the best frontmen in the post hardcore scene.
Though Silverstein stays true to their post-hardcore/emo roots their setlist is peppered with a few pop songs such as "Still Dreaming" and even unexpected covers like a screamo rendition of the Beatles' "Help". Maybe if you pay close enough attention you might even catch one of their 6 second covers from "Short Songs".

Great band, great show, lovely community at the Barfly; couldn't have asked for a better night. :) if you get the chance I would recommend them any day. :) I'll see them again as soon as they return.