By Katey Khaos

It’s that time of year again ~ time for the fifth annual Four Year Strong Holiday Show. That’s right, Worcester natives, Four Year Strong rocked the Palladium, putting on yet another show to remember! I you missed the show, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

The set list for the night read:

Blow Me
Stuck in the Middle
On A Saturday
Falling on You
What the Hell is a Gigawatt?
Bada Bing Wit a Pipe
Ghost
Maniac
Enemy of the World
Catastrophe
Drive
Sweet Kerosene
One Step at a Time
Heroes
It Must Really suck to be FYS
Wasting Time

In addition to a killer show, I also had the chance to sit down with guitarist and vocalist, Dan O’Connor to talk about FYS’ new album, and what he’s got up his sleeve for the new year!

FYS’ latest album is In Some Way, Shape or Form. Can you describe a little of what went into making the album ~ what your process is for writing?

The album was a ton of fun to make. We spent months working on songs in New Jersey where we recorded it. It was a difficult album to put together because we had so many ideas of where we wanted to go with it but in some cases did get there easily.

How do you think your fans have reacted to it?

For the most part fans seem to have been really happy with it. We went in with the mind frame of expanding what the band was so we knew there would be some back lash from people who aren’t keen on change, but the album seemed to be pretty well received.

The cover art for the album is pretty rad ~ what’s the concept behind it?

Thanks, we really wanted to use the ideas of thing organized neatly, almost as if our brains had been torn apart with our individual interests and feelings displayed on the cover. We all brought in objects that we felt, not only displayed our interests and thing that ment a lot to us, but in a way defined us.

 You had done an interview with Keep a Breast in regards to your brother and his story battling cancer. Is “One Step at a Time” inspired by him, and if so, what went through your mind when writing that piece?

Yes, that song is about myself trying to get over the passing of my brother. It was and still is one of the most difficult songs I’ve ever written because its one of the most personal. Trying to bring to lyrics the feelings that would normally be hard to even put into words, it’s not an easy task. But the interesting thing about writing that song about trying to move past losing him, actually itself helped me move on. It exercised a lot of demons and feelings.

 What would you say is your favorite part about the FYS holiday show? 

Just being able to play for our hometown crowd, no matter where we play they’re always the best.

If you could only receive one gift this holiday season, what would it be?

I don’t know that’s a tough one, I know it’s cheesy and all but I’m really lucky to have what I have.

Any New Year’s Resolutions?

I think this year I’m going to try and not worry myself stupid. I get pretty stressed sometimes about dumb stuff so I’m gonna try to relax more.

If your famous last words had to be lyrics from one of FYS’ songs, what would it be?

Rise or Die Trying