There is classic rock and then there is alternative rock.

Classic rock has always gotten a lot of holiday love from radio stations like 102.5 WDVE, which has hosted a Memorial Day countdown of the top 500 classic rock songs on and off for decades.

In 2020, ‘DVE’s “brother” station, 105.9 WXDX — which is also under iIHeartMedia ownership — was inspired to get into the act by honoring the top 420 rock and alt-rock songs from the 1990s, when the genre was in its prime, with the “July 420.”

“It’s such a definitive time for music,” said Abby Krizner, WXDX program director and midday host. “It really is symbolic of the station, which kicked up in the ‘90s.”

It began during the July 4 holiday two years ago and struck a chord with listeners of The X, which bills itself as Pittsburgh’s “Rock and Alternative” radio station. So, starting on Friday at precisely 4:20 p.m., the station is kicking off year three.

But how did they come up with a number like 420?

“We were wondering what we should do for the Fourth of July and somebody just said the date and somebody giggled under their breath ‘ha ha 420’ and we were like ‘that’ll work,’ ” said Krizner.

So, how exactly does The X define alternative rock?

“There are a lot of songs or subgenres that fall into that bucket,” said Krizner. “We’re still very much a centered sound with bands like Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Foo Fighters and newer bands (such as) Imagine Dragons, Interrupters and Rise Against. The anchor is still in those core grungy rock bands.”

And those core grunge rock bands will undoubtedly be slugging it out for the top spots on the list.

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana was the top song in each of the first two years of the “July 420.” Can it achieve a three-peat?

It’s hard to say, because there will be stiff competition from songs like “Under the Bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, a past runner-up; as well as “Jeremy” by Pearl Jam, “Plush” by the Stone Temple Pilots and another Nirvana song, “Come as You are” which is no stranger to the top 10.

But Krizner said there are certain bands associated with the “July 420” that people might not hear on a regular basis.

“All of a sudden we get to the ‘420’ and we’re playing Monster Magnet and Hum and Primitive Radio Gods and Our Lady Peace and then … it’s like this time capsule, where you just go ‘Oh my God!’” she said. “It’s all part of the fun of hearing what songs meant to you in the ‘90s.”

Krizner said the method for compiling the “July 420” begins with The X asking people to submit their top 10 all-time ‘90s lists on an open entry form on The X website. Listeners could also fill out lists of what are called “stray nuggets” or “anything that is iconically ‘90s.”

The station then combines the audience input with research, a song’s chart position, and its history of being played on The X.

Krizner said that based on the feedback she’s received, the listeners really like it.

“Every once in a while you’ll have a song on the list that people want to argue about,” she said. “What blew us away is that people started keeping the list and writing down the songs as they appeared and tweeting them to us to keep us on track.”

There are even stories about people taking days off of work so that they don’t have to miss any of the countdown.

Fittingly enough, the “July 420” starts Friday at 4:20 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. July 4 — just as it’s starting to get close to fireworks displays.

A full list of the top 420 songs will be posted on the WXDX website as soon as the top song is announced.

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