Well, well, well. We’re back at Four Chord again! The forecast is sunny and warm, with it cooling down after sunset. The bands are lined up, and the crowd will be arriving momentarily at a new location- well, semi-new. We are inside F.N.B. Stadium this year. The last time the festival was held here (Four Chord 6 in 2019), the stadium was under a different name, and the notorious lineup change happened. If you know, you know. It was also in the parking lot that year. This should be a good time, so let’s dig in!
First on the Biggies Bullies stage, Pain Clinic. This band had some hard shoes to fill. They not only opened the day, but also opened the entire fest. However, the hometown band of Pittsburgh, PA, found themselves making that look pretty easy out of the gate. The heavy hardcore band had some really cool and heavy riffs that came with aggressive lyrics and drum beats. By the second song, they had a circle pit going and asked them to make it bigger for song three. It was the first band, but the crowd was a really decent size. The band even mentioned that the crowd was different from previous Four Chords. Day 1’s lineup is one of the heaviest of any Four Chord festival, resulting in a lot of fans arriving early. Pain Clinic’s discography includes the 2022 EP Gimmick Dreams and the 2026 full-length debut album Love Hurts, featuring guest vocals from Jami Morgan of Code Orange.
Up next on the Smart Punk Records stage was Pittsburgh’s own Facewreck. After a monitor issue at the start of the set, the band was off and running. As someone who had never heard of them before, I did a small search and found this description: “The band plays an aggressive, heavy music reminiscent of 90s hardcore and beatdown styles, but paired with heavily exaggerated, humorous, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics mocking gym-bro posturing and generic hardcore cliches.” I will say, whoever wrote that description was spot on. I also found in that research that they do get a lot of hate for being a “hardcore” band that makes satire music. But I also feel like that is the entire point. Making that type of music is something they obviously enjoy, so quite honestly, why not do it? It’s music; it is a creative outlet. They are fun, and people at the fest did seem to enjoy it too. To a band, that is all you can ask for. The band also took a minute to thank Four Chord for having them and keeping things as they should be: about the music.
Thousand Below took the Bullies stage after Facewreck, well, wrecked our faces. The American post-hardcore band from San Diego, California, kept the energy going as the crowd really began to fill into F.N.B. Stadium. Vocalist James Deberg, guitarist Josh Thomas, bassist Josh Billimoria, and drummer Max Santoro tore up the stage with their post-hardcore set. The smooth vocals paired with screams really made a nice sound. Pair that with some fun drum beats and guitar riffs, and I was really happy with this band and definitely need to listen to them on music streaming platforms. The band has been around since 2016 and is on a small tour, so check out if they are out near you!
Militarie Gun: a band that got its start in 2020 during the pandemic. With two albums out and high praise from Rolling Stone and Slant Magazine, the band has taken off and never looked back. The alt-rock band from Los Angeles, California, should be familiar to FC Fest goers, as they previously melted the stage during the tenth anniversary fest. It was a nice change of pace and provided a small break in the hardcore aspect, slowing it down to a more rock vibe for a bit.
Haywire hit the stage near 4 pm, a good two and a half hours into the fest. The crowd was lively at this point. Vendors were packed, food was cooking, and beers were slinging. This was the first band I actually knew of beforehand and was excited to see them live for the first time. The Boston-based post-hardcore band took everything all four prior bands put down and threw it into overdrive. The band just signed a record deal with Roadrunner Records and has a new album, I Don’t Want To Say Goodbye, out in a week. The band also recently released a new song, “Interstate Love Affair.” Supporting bands like Turnstile, The Dropkick Murphys, and Circle Jerk, it is safe to say they have gained a massive following. So much so, they have been booked by Riot Fest, Aftershock, and Louder Than Life – three of the biggest music festivals in North America. The set began with a Sweet Caroline intro that slowly bled into their first song. It was a constantly moving set where everyone moved and danced – even a bit of crowd surfing from the lead vocalist. Cassette tapes were thrown into the crowd as well. The band talked about sobriety and how the lead singer’s adoptive mom was in attendance at one of their shows for the first time. Both of which got loud applause. Haywire seemed to be very grateful for the opportunity and all in all, it was the most energetic set to this point as the crowd was there for it.
Bayside, a rock band hailing from the Bayside/Queens area of New York, were welcomed back to the Four Chord stage. Returning with a loud ovation, you could tell the crowd appreciated them coming back as much as the band appreciated them. The emo and punk rock band gave the audience exactly what they were wanting. It was another needed break, in my opinion, from the hardcore music that even gave Bayside some jitters, saying they were nervous playing after a band like Haywire. Formed in 2000, the band has been through a lot. With nine studio albums to their name and two decades’ worth of performances, this legendary band knew what the crowd wanted even still. While giving a glimpse of what was to come tomorrow, with a more laid-back, pop-punk feel, it still felt right having them play day one. I was just happy to hear them play a song that featured my favorite metal band, Ice Nine Kills: “How To Ruin Everything.” Sound-wise, it was spot on. Vocals were crisp, instrumentals were on point, and the crowd seemed to be enjoying it as well.
Counterparts brought the Canadian metal scene to the stage after Bayside. Being a band since 2007, Counterparts had a lot of departing members over the years, but their sound has stayed true. Seven studio albums, four EP’s, twelve music videos, and one live album later, the band hit Four Chord with a lot of material to throw at anyone who never heard of them. If you were not a fan of them before, you probably left one if you enjoy the hardcore scene. Running the stage as if they owned it resulted in crowd surfing, mosh pits, and circle pits coming out of hiatus. The crowd was engaged and willing to do anything Counterparts asked of them. The songs were easy for non-fans to listen to and head bang/put arms up to. My favorite part had to be when the songs ended, and the screaming stopped when the “thank you” after each song sounded so odd to hear. You get so used to the singing voice that the normal voice just catches you off guard.
Superheaven is a band I am familiar with because of their hometown in Doylestown, PA. Being born and raised in South Jersey, Doylestown is a hop, skip, and jump away from Philly and maybe a 45-minute drive from my hometown. Created in 2008 under the name Daylight, the band changed to SuperHeaven in 2014 after a name legal dispute. The band went on to go on a hiatus after 2016 and played a few reunion shows over the years. With three studio albums, the last going in 2025, the band has a grunge and alt rock feel that made this set feel right at home. They did seem to “upset” and receive some boo’s from some fans by saying they were from the good half of Pennsylvania. All in good fun, though, as they did get a good reaction from their set. I felt like it was a bit oddly placed, after Counterparts being the slowdown in the vibe. Other than that, though, I felt like they sounded amazing, and finally, the stage lights were able to be used effectively as the sun was setting and provided a darker stage than earlier in the day. The band did suffer a technical glitch as the vocals went out with the monitors. The band kept going as best they could, and eventually everything was fixed and good to go. It was also mentioned that this was the first tour stop for the band, who are on tour with Knocked Loose.
We Came As Romans, a band that is local to where I am currently living in Toledo, Ohio, hails from Troy, Michigan. Genre-wise, they are American metalcore with 2.4 million monthly Spotify listeners. When they walked on stage, it was at this point you could tell the fans were really getting what they wanted. Throughout the day, you saw a sea of We Came As Romans, Underoath, and Knocked Loose clothing amongst a lot of Ice Nine Kills and other metal bands. The fans were getting to those bands they truly came to see. Featuring a mix of heavy breakdowns, clean vocals, aggressive screaming, and electronic synthesizer elements, fans were going absolutely bonkers. Circle pits were going, Santa was crowd surfing, heads were banging, and people were filling the stadium turf with barely any walking space. It was cool to listen to the crowd sing back to the band loudly. Especially the “whoa oh oh oh oooh!” Moments in one song. The band took a moment to talk about rolling with rejections, especially those in the crowd who are artists, bands, and creatives. Speaking to them, the band said never to give up. Everyone goes through it, but it’s how you come out of it that counts. With lyrics that were about mental health, brotherhood, and unity, this set was definitely a crowd favorite to that point.
Saosin changed the vibe for their set once again, being a rock band from Orange County, California. While they do give some post-hardcore vibes, I picked up on some emo vibes too and was pleasantly surprised with them. Since they are not a band I had heard of before this, I had no expectations and just wanted to listen. I really enjoyed the performance, and being a band that’s been around the block since 2003, I am surprised I haven’t heard of them. The three guitar parts didn’t seem to make anything messy, and the lead vocalist wasn’t drowned out by them and the drums. They seemed pleasantly surprised by the crowd’s reaction. Mentioning how cool it was. Beach balls began going on stage a lot during this set, so the band would kick them back into the crowd. One, wailing at a crowd member on the barricade, square in the face. The next song was dedicated to that person for being a good sport about it and an apology as well. As the sun set, so did the temperature. It began to get a bit chilly, and anyone not in the first few rows could be seen grabbing their hoodies as Saosin was on stage. It has been 10 years since the band last played, asking why it had been so long. Asking the crowd if they wanted them back, the feedback was a definite yes.
Kublai Khan TX, based out of Sherman, Texas, took the stage next. Forming in 2009, the band has released two Ep’s and five studio albums. Fitting the day’s vibe, the American metalcore band kept the party going. A vibe that, to me, resembled to 1990’s time period of metalcore. From the guitar riffs to the way the drum beats were, it very well fit that time period’s music. The four-piece band had quite the crowd following, as many of the first few rows sang the lyrics to every song. Kublai Khan TX would ask the crowd to jump, mosh, and sing loud and proud throughout the set. They would not disappoint. While Kublai Khan TX were not the most energetic in terms of stage presence, they made up for that by talking to the crowd during songs and through the music itself. Each song brought its own fun elements that made it hard to take your eyes off the stage. I really enjoyed the drum beats, with each one ringing and booming throughout the set, driving the song forward.
Underoath, the last band to hit the Smart Punk Records Stage for the day, came in to one of the loudest cheers of the day. Underoath is an American rock band formed in Ocala, Florida, in 1997, playing the metalcore and post-hardcore genres. They have RIAA-Certified Gold albums: They’re Only Chasing Safety and Define The Great Line. From the moment they stepped on stage, they commanded it. Every single member was moving and making it their best show they could. It was easy to see why they have made it this far. They truly know how to involve the fans in their sets, all while playing some great music. Even playing a song they haven’t played in a good while, and didn’t even practice it, it sounded amazing. “Generation No Surrender” got the crowd involved by repeating lyrics back to the band, and really made the experience pretty surreal watching from where I was sitting.
Knocked Loose hit the stage as the final act of day 1. Festival-goers eagerly awaited the band to come on as time ticked closer to their set time. As the final band of the day, they had some finishing touches to the stage. Once they did come onto the stage, I immediately thought to myself, how can anyone have good hearing after that loud screaming. The venue erupted in screams from a day-long wait of anticipation. Formed in 2013 in Oldham County, Kentucky, the hardcore punk band has amassed a huge following, and it was easy to see why. The band plays to the crowd. It all seemed effortless. From song to song to song, nothing really seemed off. Well, that is, besides the band not liking the crowd’s energy 1/3 of the way into the set. Knocked Loose asked for more. A lot more. Bigger circle pits, more dancing, more… everything. They have a certain level of expectation, and when the crowd isn’t up to that standard, it showed. They made sure of it. But that comes as a good thing to me. You don’t want to give your all on stage to a crowd you feel can do better. So, why not amp them up? It was a fun way to see them interact and command the stage. A really good end to a long day.
Day one was in the books, and man, I have to say, if Rishi and company kept the hardcore portion and made it day one every year. I would have no complaints. To be able to try to get bands like Ice Nine, Motionless In White, Falling In Reverse, Poppy, and other popular metal bands (I saw a lot of those shirts) would elevate this festival to the next level, I feel. There was a lot of Ice Nine shirts worn, including myself. If Four Chord stays at the end of September, that would make a perfect fit as they are a horror based band. October is a week away. It would be pretty cool to get the Halloween vibe going with that.
Rishi and company did a good thing by welcoming hardcore bands to this festival. I hope this can be used to get major bands in the metal and hardcore genre. Another thing is that I really enjoyed the venue too. We still have another day, so I won’t say much about that yet. But as day one closes, I’m excited to see what day two brings.
Check out some crowd shots below to see if you made the cut!
