Emo Forever
It's never been a phase
I recently told a story (link below!) for So Say We All’s first VAMP show in Los Angeles (they’ve been around in San Diego for 15 years). The show takes submissions based on a theme, and over about a month or so pairs you with a mentor for writing and performance coaching to make your anecdote into a meaningful story, complete with pictures to accentuate your piece. The process makes for truly well-crafted stories. The theme for January was “Midnight Strikes,” which I interpreted as “how do you cope when shit hits the fan.” I talked about how being emo in my teens gave me a way to manage my budding depression long before I discovered therapy or medication.
I am still very emo, in that I don’t consider a piece of art to be one of my favorites unless it makes me cry. I also still wear mostly black, and all of my favorite albums by popular artists are the ones where they’re really spilling their guts out (Lemonade, Folklore). I didn’t go to the big emo festival in Las Vegas and I regret it, so I am going to see Fall Out Boy perform with New Found Glory and Bring Me the Horizon in July. I’m stoked. Also, of course I’ve been to Emo Nite.
Originally for the VAMP show, I had wanted to talk about how, when my mom passed away in 2020, I felt myself slowly reverting back my emo teenager self. I pulled away from people (which worked out great, given the pandemic), I played all my emo faves on Spotify (playlist below), and I was so moody. Because grief is a very moody beast. Even with all the coping mechanisms I had built over the years through therapy, nothing could soothe like a little emo.
My story didn’t end up really discussing my mom or my grieving process, but emo did play a surprisingly large part. If you’re already conditioned to feel like every day the world is ending, when it actually does, you’re ready.
Thank you to everyone who saw my story live and said nice things. Like a true emo, I didn’t think anyone would want to hear this at all, so it’s always cool to hear that it resonated. Here’s my story, complete with old journal entries, niche band shoutouts, and MySpace photos. Due to some lil technical difficulties, the first 40 seconds or so don’t have video, but don’t worry, it kicks in, just give it a sec. You’re not missing any good photos.
EMO PICKS
Here are my top emo picks for when midnight strikes, so we say:
My Emo Playlist I Curated During Quarantine
MY FAVORITE EMO ALBUMS
I know there is an ever-evolving definition of real emo, but these all “fit the vibe.” I don’t want to argue semantics of emo music. I’m not a college radio station DJ anymore.
Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends
Fall Out Boy - From Under the Cork Tree
Cap’n Jazz - Analphabetapolothology
Bright Eyes - I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
The Spill Canvas - One Fell Swoop
^ugh god, the lyrics on this are absolute barf, but I played it so much in high school, I can’t shake it.
Minus the Bear - Highly Refined Pirates
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Taking Back Sunday - Where You Want to Be
Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
Fall Out Boy - Take This To Your Grave
Motion City Soundtrack - Commit This to Memory
MORE RECENT HONORABLE MENTIONS
Machine Gun Kelly - Tickets to My Downfall
^just trust me. it’s a great pop punk album.
hollywood sucks// by Kenny Hoopla & Travis Barker
Exile by Taylor Swift & Bon Iver
^ Taylor Swift cover
Also, just Friday Night Lights. Something about that show is very emo. I think it might be the time period, and that time Jason Street yells “Because I’m crippled and want to listen to Nirvana!”