Is there really a better way to keep the weekend alive and obliterate those back to the 9 till 5 Monday blues than heading on down to Bristol’s own SWX and partying like it’s 2001? NO! is the answer you are looking for.
Bristol played host to one of the big names in the pop-punk world on Monday the 24th of February, I am of course talking about the one and only, mighty ‘Four Year Strong’
Forming way back in 2001 by guitarist/vocalist Dan O’Connor, vocalist/guitarist Alan Day and Drummer Jake Massucco and later on joined by bassist Joe Weiss. The band were quick to make a name for themselves with a handful of EPs and Demos before releasing their debut full-length album, 2005’s ‘Its Our Time’ followed by an album that really pushed them into the punk limelight, 2007’s ‘Rise or Die Trying’.
Continuing to release albums throughout the next 17 years, 6 more to be exact. The band shared stages across the globe with huge names such as New Found Glory, Cancer Bats, Bring Me the Horizon and even pop-punk giants Blink-182, but this tour and this night is all about ‘Four Year Strong’ and their continued fun time legacy.
So let’s not beat around the bush and dive into the night at hand.
After the amazing support bands, that being German punksters ’Shoreline’ and New York’s own ‘Koyo’ adequately warmed up the packed out and very lively SWX crowd, it was time to welcome to the stage our headliners.
Hands clapping and feet stomping the audience can no longer hold in the energy they have held in for what will be a set filled with nothing but up-beat punk anthems.
Walking onto the stage with fists pumping and filled with steam ready to be released onto the zestful crowd. The band dived headfirst into track one of the latest album, 2024’s ‘Analysis Paralysis’ by the name of ‘Aftermath/Afterthought’, which instantly had the crowd singing at the top of their lungs from word one. This would continue throughout the whole set, even the shouting parts. I don’t know how many attendees there were inside the venue, but hearing that many people singing and shouting from the photo pit was an astonishing sound.
Having such a vast back catalogue meant the band were not short of material at all, and we were graced with a 17-song set with pieces from nearly every album spanning their 25-year-long career. Fans of the band will know that every song is pretty much a fast-paced, catchy crowd pleaser, too, so the energy from both band and crowd was in full force with nonstop dancing, jumping, mosh pits and all-around fun.
I don’t think the band stood still or even stayed on both feet for more than a couple of bars of each song played, with Dan O’Connor, Alan Day and Joe Weiss using every inch of the stage to their advantage, continuously calling out for more singing, more jumping and the inevitable crowd surfing which there was no shortage of.
As the quartet stepped away from the more chug-heavy riffs and moved into the more twiddly, intricate sections of certain songs and still spent 80% of the time in mid-air whilst performing them makes the mind boggle and really does show that all 4 members are not new to this game and show an incredible, inspiring precision in their ability to play their instruments.
As this was a tour to promote the newest album, songs such as ‘Bad Habit’ ‘Dead End Friend’ ‘Uncooked’ and ‘Maybe Its Me’ were played, along with older classics like ‘Brain Pain’ ‘Catastrophe’ ‘Its Cool’ and ending the set with 2010’s ‘Wasting Time (eternal Summer) before the walk-off song ‘Holding Out for a Hero’ by the great Bonnie Tyler played over the PA which indeed was also sung out loudly by the enthusiastic, spirited Bristol gig-goers.
The band left everyone wanting more and more, but sadly, the night had to come to an end after an hour of balls-to-wall good time sweaty fun.
Im sure Bristol will be seeing them again in the future and we will for sure welcome them back with open arms and bigger mosh pits
I am a self taught Photographer and an aspiring reviewer.
I have been in and out of bands for the past 15 years and some, so thought it only makes sense to stay in the scene that has been the most important aspect of my life since I can remember, live music.
Available for:
I am available for small gigs, larger concerts, recording sessions and festivals.
First attended gig:
The first proper gig that went to that I can actually remember was Muse supported by a then lesser known Elbow and I think the main reason I remember that is because it was the first big concert that I was allowed to go to with just my friends. Obviously Muse were fantastic by the way.
First gig shot:
Im pretty sure the first gig I shot was for a friends band at a local social club with some sort of £30 Argos camera. You can only imagine the fantastic quality of the shots.
Dream gig:
My dream gig to shoot would most definitely be either Tool, not just because they are amazing but their stage and lighting is magnificent. Or I would love to shoot another one of my favourite bands which is Explosions In The Sky and that’s just because they are incredible.
