To continue our recap of the awesome annual local festival we all know and love, this day would be a more straightforward Four Chord day compared to the heavier mix of the previous day. This day also had music starting almost forty minutes earlier due to a few more bands on the list compared to the first day. So that just means more bands to rock through and review, so lets get through the final day of jamming!

Heading North, 1-1:25:

What seems like Four Chord tradition, opening up day two are some local homies that we all know and love! The only female fronted band of the whole fest, they would start day two off right with that straightforward pop punk that Four Chord was built on. The attendees seemed to show up early this day cause they pulled a decent crowd  being the first band of the day and music starting at 1pm sharp. However, they still would manage to get the very first crowdsurfer of the day and some pretty heavy moshing for being the first band of the day. Maybe it is attributed to how great they sounded or the epic guitar solo they had in the middle of the set, or maybe the stellar shark fact we were graced with near the end of their set. The whole performance was just short, sweet, warming up, fun! A great way to start the day off. 

Don’t Panic, 1:30-1:55:

Another legendary local band to grace the festival, these guys would bring the slower, more chilled vibe for the day. While the crowd did seem to dissipate a little compared to Heading North, those who stayed were with the set the entire length. Just as short and sweet as the previous set it was a nice groovy vibe for little under half an hour. They also sounded just as great, giving props to the sound techs of the whole fest and how great each band is performing.

Keep Flying, 2-2:30:

The first time I ever saw these guys would be the second Four Chord I ever attended, last year, and I can certainly say I’m glad I got to witness these guys both then and now! Not being biased since we interviewed John last year, but every member is so down to earth and chill that you could be friends with any of them at any moment. I mean I guess it makes sense for a ska, and sax, centered band but they are also fantastic at working with the crowd and talking to them, really making them feel part of the set. This is probably why there were a few more crowdsurfers so early and how people were able to bounce around with the temperature being slightly warmer than day one. When you see them you feel part of the band and team every minute, them being hilarious with their banter just makes it even better. 

Patent Pending, 2:35-3:05:

Legends to the festival and their genre as well, they were sure to keep the energy going and the crowd rolling right along. Which they did to a tee, especially the frontman who had enough energy for the entire band combined. But, that is probably what made the whole set feel so electric, and the fact they sounded awesome the whole performance. They have played this festival quite a few times but no matter how many times they play it they are always welcomed back with open arms.

Eternal Boy, 3:10-3:40:

Big boss himself, Mr. Rishi’s own band, and more local legends included in the bill, we have these guys to keep the crowd amped and energy flowing. Just like most of the acts so far we are welcomed to standard pop punk, but with a sneaky little Taylor Swift cover sprinkled into the setlist, a staple for those who have seen them before. The reason we are here year after year celebrating pop punk and the local, DIY scenes, there would be no Four Chord without this man, his band, and their love for creating straightforward, great sounding, pup punk. That dedication, and the fact they sounded great as well, is why they can still pull a good sized crowd for only being the fifth band of the day.

Hit the Lights, 3:45-4:15:

To bring back the softer side of the pop punk spectrum, the more pop if you will, these gents would put on a great performance for the almost halfway point of the day. While being a bit of a more chill vibe they still managed to keep it high energy and have the crowd fully attentive during their set. Even more evident when they were cut off at the end, much like Superheaven the previous day, and the crowd managed to sing every word of the track till its end. With that you know it makes sense why they have a place on the bill and the fact they sounded great the whole set and put on a fantastic performance regardless if it was one of the softer sets of the day.

Driveways, 4:20-4:50:

Probably the heaviest band of the day, and quite an outlier, this trio would spike the energy right back up from any of the previous bands. The change of sound would do wonders as the crowd was with them from start to finish, even enticing a wave of surfers for an entire song for a free tote bag. I think they had the most crowdsurfers of the day so far, even before the tote bag stunt. It makes sense why they would be in the middle of the day, starting the fantastic ending stretch to come, because they rocked the entire set and sounded the most crisp I’ve seen them so far. They made sure to play the hits we usually hear when seeing them while also playing some newer tracks they just put out.

F!nch, 4:55-5:25:

I will be honest this is the band we went to get food during, however that doesn't mean we missed them or anything! The stadium being a soccer stadium we managed to still hear them from the food area but then also being able to go to the stands right in front of the stages, so we weren't front and center but we still caught them. But, keeping the harder flavor going, they would keep the crowd energy high into the sky and the movement rolling along. The crowd was very into them from the start, keeping the movement going. The band sounded fantastic with crisp vocals and high-strung energy transferring into the crowd. Another great selection to have for the middle part of the day, most likely getting that second wind blasting into people's lungs. Playing all the hits might do that, the people showing their appreciation through surfing and singing the songs back.

Cartel, 5:30-6:

With these scene legends it was back to the standard Four Chord pop punk when they went on stage, bringing on another nice and chill vibe compared to the previous few acts. As like we did, most would use this as a breather before getting into the final six bands coming up, so it was nice that Cartel was billed where they were and it made sense for the acts to come after them. But they made sure to play their hits they’re known for while also playing from their newest album that came out just last month. With that release and their performance it goes to show you that even being a scene vet they still have so much more to give. Like I said earlier it made a lot of sense that Cartel was right before Motion City Soundtrack and the last of the thirty minute sets, being a good launching point for the supporting acts then into the headliner.

Motion City Soundtrack, 6:05-6:40:

These amazing scene legends would be the special ones to start the actual headlining stretch, for good reason too. I believe this would be the first time I’ve seen them but holy crap was it amazing. The entire set was rocking and jamming, the vocalist sounding like one of the crispest both days and really showcasing that even twenty years in you can still keep it going. The entire set felt like one huge dance party and sing-along with how active the crowd was and into the band they were. It only made sense that they would be my favorite set of the day so far, and one of the top of the weekend. They kept the energy high and the crowd going well into the next bands coming up. 

Mom Jeans, 6:45-7:20:

Mom Jeans are awesome, it’s always an immense pleasure to see them live. For this set they started the set with a funny Travis Scott Fein skit before playing the first track, getting the crowd ready and loose right off the bat. While they would play mainly from their newer tracks that didn’t stop them from sounding amazing and keeping the crowd jumping around and moving. The crowd was actually a lot rowdier for them than most of the other bands throughout the night, showing that Mom Jeans deserve the spot they got and can rock with the best of them.

State Champs, 7:25-8:10:

The crowd really popped off for the Champs as soon as they began, making their set yet another giant dance party and a huge blast. They played their second album released in full, marking it as an extra special treat for the dedicated fans that were there banging their heads and screaming. They were even kind enough to play one singular extra song after they finished the album playthrough. Being fourth to last they certainly did the job of keeping the crowd alive and amped enough for the last three bands so no one was tired until after music ended for the night. It only stands to reason that these legends deserve the love and praise and we hope they keep coming back to Four Chord.

Boys Like Girls, 8:15-8:55:

I am not ashamed to say this was a small dream come true for the chubby little six year old who loved pop music when he was growing up. I have a soft spot for early 2000s pop music and boy bands, no judging. But, these legendary bros did put on an absolutely stellar show outside of the nostalgia factor, the vocalist himself sounding insanely better than you’d think most early 2000s pop stars would today. The last time they were in Pitt ironically was opening for the Jonas Brothers, who I would also love to see live. But, I can say the crowd work from the vocalist was amazing, like they never skipped a beat from when they first started. They played all the songs you would know them for and then some, even playing a few newer songs outside of the radio hits. At the end in true rockstar fashion the vocalist would throw his tambourine out into the crowd, unfortunately I was nowhere close to obtaining it. 

Mayday Parade, 9-9:45:

Probably the most Four Chord band you could get on Four Chord, and that’s a compliment! It only makes sense that these guys would directly support the more traditional Four Chord day, hell they could’ve even headlined if Pierce the Veil wasn’t there. Another set of legends everyone throughout the scene should know, they gave it their all to keep the crowd jumping and bumping late into the night. It definitely helped that they made sure to play the hits, mainly being from their first album. I’ve seen them a few times before this year's Four Chord but I’d say this was one of the best times due to the crowd and energy throughout their entire set. Having them sandwiched between Boys Like Girls and Pierce the Veil was a little weird cause it was largely varying genres in a row but I’d say they bridged it well, being a certain mix of vibes between the band before and after them.

Pierce the Veil, 9:50-11:

This would be the first time I saw Pierce the Veil live and oh man do I wish I saw them way sooner because it blew me away. Vic is such an amazing vocalist that it isn’t even fair, and the band themselves sounded the most on point I think any musician could be. The entire production of the set including the giant lights they had hanging above the stage and the pyro, it was just stellar! Unlike most of the other bands, I actually knew about Pierce when they were at their peak because of my sister's phase she went through, but I didn’t like them until just a few years ago when I actually dove into them. It was one of those things you regret not getting into when it was fresh and new but lucky it wasn’t too late. But, the crowd reflected how big the band still is ten years later as it was an even bigger crowd than the night before. Night two sold more simply because it was less niche and more of a “normal” Four Chord day, but that doesn’t mean both days weren’t awesome. I would say outside of both headliners for each day, Motion City Soundtrack would have to join them as top three sets of the festival, but Pierce might be my number one of the weekend. To finally get into their older albums then hear those songs live was actually chilling.