The Second Coming of Emo: Emo Nite at the Sinclair
By Sara O’ Connell
It’s no secret that emo culture has resurfaced in a major way over the last few years. Possibly with the help of TikTok, possibly with the help of nostalgia for non-pandemic times, emo culture has come back with a full vengeance. Before it was as mainstream as it is now, the emo and scene subculture was looked at as something weird, off-putting, and even dangerous. An association between violence on others or self, with drugs and or devil worship (if you’re lucky) . Now, this new wave is allowing these new interpretations of artists, new and old, a chance to make their version of emo.
Mainstream artists like WILLOW and Machine Gun Kelly have traded their pop and rap roots in favor of a more emo-punk sound. While there are some debates of what “counts” as emo, there are some defining characteristics that separate an emo song from rock songs. Melodic melodies and angsty, sensitive, and dissonant vibes are staples but regardless of instrumentation or the artist’s look an emo sound can come from anyone.
Whether it’s Fall Out Boy, The Used, Cobra Starship, Evanescence, The Get-Up Kids, or the countless other artists that fall under the emo category, the community of listeners are some of the most easily identifiable fans in music. The intense musical expression is at the core of what brings people from all walks of life together.
Emo Night is a locally run night that started in Los Angeles. DJs from all over the country curate a playlist of the best of emo bands and play them throughout the night. Crowds of 21+ come together to scream and mosh to the music of their entire childhood. Boston’s Emo Night was hosted at The Sinclair in Harvard Square last month. While you can’t guarantee that you’ll know every song that’s playing, you'll know that you’ll be surrounded by people who understand the feeling behind you when you scream the lyrics “This all was only wishful thinking!”.
As I was in the crowd, I wondered what 12 year old me would think of this. I don’t think she’d be able to comprehend that she was singing along with people who also listened to this music. You aren’t more or less special because you listen to a type of music, but back in the day, listening to emo bands had to be kept secret from my friends and peers at school. Being a kid is awkward, you know? I remember sitting on the bus in sixth grade listening to “Still Waiting” by Sum 41 and when a group of girls saw the bloody album cover, their shrieks and crackles echoed against the metal walls. Looking back I know that kids will be kids and I naturally learned to let go, but it doesn't change the fact that I learned to keep things to myself if it made me an outcast. Emo Night is a night like no other where it feels like the outcasts outnumber the in-crowd and come together as one. I felt a sense of safety among the crowd at Emo Night celebrating my inner child with others in a grown up frame of mind.. Coupled with the fact that I was bonding with new friends was an added touch to the exhilaration I felt.
If you’re getting a case of FOMO reading this, do not fear! The Sinclair hosts Emo Night every month and occasionally Brighton Music Hall will host their nights on the weekend. While this is a 21+ event, that doesn’t mean you can’t make your own Emo Night in the comfort of your apartment, dorm rooms or suites. It doesn’t even have to be an Emo Night, it could be a Punk Night, a Trip Hop Night, a Folk Night, whatever night you want. All you need is a group of people who know how to appreciate the music and the space to dance. Never in a million years did my 12 year old self think that there would be a time where emo music and all its experiences would be celebrated this way. In a way it seems like we’re all reverting a bit to the angsty sides of ourselves, which isn’t hard to picture since the way of the world has changed so much. When we were kids we didn’t have much control over where we went, who we hung out with, or what we did. In a weird way that’s a parallel to our lives now. Events like Emo Night, and emo music in general embrace that confusion, that angst, and that sense of unfamiliarity that we’re so accustomed to not just in our teenage years, but beyond.