Live Review

GIAN Introduces: Four Year Strong, Mayday Parade – Newcastle Carling Academy 2

• 13th Jun 2008

Sometimes you are lucky enough to attend a gig where you witness a huge step in a band’s career, or watch genuinely overwhelmed looks wash over band member’s faces as they can’t quite fathom the response and support they’re receiving – tonight both Four Year Strong and Mayday Parade had that gig.

With the two US bands fresh from their debut U.K performances at the previous weekend’s Give It A Name shows, they would have been forgiven for making rather cautious predictions of what crowd may turn out for the ‘GIAN introduces’ spin off tour. Thus they could not hide the biggest of smiles when they gazed across at a sweat-soaked room of scensters literally bouncing off the walls to their crunching riffs and soaring melodies.

Tallahassee, Florida’s Emo-rockers Mayday Parade were first to squeeze on to the less than accommodating Academy 2 stage, the long locks of lead singer Derek Sanders swayed over his face as his laments “I had a dream last night” inciting the first mass sing along to the addictive ‘Jamie All Over’. The scene had been set, and whatever bullshit had been written recently about the ‘evils of emo’, the response and connection between Mayday Parade and their adoring fans was as healthy and uplifting as it gets. Every word of ‘Walk On Water Or Drown’ and ‘Jersey’ was sung back with such meaning and relation.

On record Mayday Parade sound like a two singer set-up, but live guitar-less Sanders well and truly takes the singing reins, as guitarist and co-vocalist Jeremy Lenzo fought a losing battle with his mic, which seems to be barely on. Even the back up vocals courtesy of drummer Jake Bundrick packed a greater punch. That said, the vocals didn’t need to be spot on tonight thanks to being drowned out by their raucous rabble. ‘Black Cat’ is a blistering slice of pop-punk while ‘I’d Hate To Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About’ is a gut-wrenching ballad performed with such sincerity. Bracelet-covered arms reached out to touch their hero as Sanders swooned and serenaded the front row, a slick front-man he worked the crowd into the palm of his hand, as he then treats them to old favourite ‘Three Cheers For Five Years’.
“I want to thank each and every one of you guys for coming out tonight and giving us such great support. It really is amazing” Sanders beams with pride, before launching into their final song ‘When I Get Home, You’re so Dead’. A performance riding on adrenaline and immense gratitude, Four Year Strong were set quite a display to top.

But the Boston boys haven’t caused such a stir on both sides of the pond for nothing. A band that has left many a music hack salivating at their stingingly raw live performances, Four Year Strong are certainly ones to watch. The quintet’s unique fusion of pop-punk melodies slapped over crunching hardcore riffs incited a chaotic response from the overly enthusiastic urchins down the front.

Despite debut full-length ‘Rise or Die Trying’ only being released in the U.K a day earlier, it was obvious fans had been familiar with the awesome anthems for a hell of a lot longer. ‘Catastrophe’ rocked the room, the incessant riff on ‘Prepare To Be Digitally Manipulated’ sounds so brilliantly brutal live while ‘Abandon Ship or Abandon All Hope’ commanded deafening devotion from the hoards bounding around before them. Live the Four Year Strong lads could steal any show, the urgent tirade of energy and blistering beats can’t fail to stun and seduce onlookers and tonight they sound immense. The chorus from ‘Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Hell’ soars as the dual vocals of Dan O’Connor and Alan Day create the perfect contrast.

What makes FYS so difficult to pigeon-hole is the rapid transformation from synth-lead pop hooks, to gang vocals and distinctly hardcore breakdowns which are all encapsulated on their storming rendition of ‘Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die’. Their set is relentless and ruthless, the sheer ferocity is one to marvel at, but what is more they have a lorry-load of killer songs to go with such spirit and endeavour. Josh Lyford is a joy to watch as he mashes his keyboard like the crankiest of babies throwing a tantrum, and when the synth is not required he bounces around mouthing every word and feeling every pounding guitar riff as if the most crazed of fans.
Finishing with the closing track on ‘Rise Or Die Trying’, the shit-storm of a song ‘Maniac (R.O.D)’, Four Year Strong can do no wrong, their effort is undeniable and their sound is the perfect combination of pop-punk melodies spread over the meatiest of riffs with body-shaking synth grooves thrown in for good measure.

Praise has been poured on the Massachusetts men of late and on tonight’s showing it’s strikingly obvious to see why, they play with unquestionable passion and belief – while throwing one hell of punk-rock party along the way.