Emo music was a popular genre that emerged out of the punk rock scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Known for its raw, emotional sound and angst-filled lyrics, emo bands like Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, and My Chemical Romance attracted a devoted following of teenagers and young adults.
While the height of emo music has passed, it remains a nostalgic and meaningful genre for many who came of age during that time. Emo Nights have emerged as events that allow former emo kids to revisit the music of their youth in a social setting. Two well-known Emo Nights are Emo Night and Emo Night Brooklyn, which share the central theme of emo music but have some key differences.
What is Emo Night?
Emo Night was founded in 2014 in Los Angeles by two promoters, T.J. Petracca and Morgan Freed, who wanted to create a “living, breathing emo museum” for fans of the genre. The first Emo Night event took place at Los Angeles club Echoplex and it was an instant hit, selling out the 900-capacity venue.
Emo Night has since expanded to over 30 cities across the United States and Canada. The events feature DJs spinning classic emo hits, live performances from emo bands, and visuals like old photographs and videos from the scene’s heyday.
While Emo Night started in L.A., the events strive to capture the nostalgia and community of local emo music history in each city. For example, an Emo Night in Chicago might feature midwestern emo bands like Cap’n Jazz, while an Emo Night in Florida would highlight that region’s screamo scene.
Beyond the music, Emo Night aims to recapture the full experience of being an emo kid in the early 2000s. The visual aesthetics and culture of the emo era are on full display, with attendees dressing in pop-punk apparel like studded belts, dyed hair, and eyeliner. Contests like “ultimate mic swinging” and “hand-holding competitions” add to the tongue-in-cheek spirit.
What is Emo Night Brooklyn?
Emo Night Brooklyn was founded in 2015 by two scene veterans, Adam Lempel and Jackie McDermott, who sought to celebrate Brooklyn’s pivotal role in the mid-2000s emo movement. During that period, Brooklyn was home to many influential emo and indie rock bands like Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, Straylight Run, and The Movielife.
Rather than just reminiscing about the emo of yore, Emo Night Brooklyn aims to capture the feel of an actual emo show during the genre’s heyday. The events take place at Brooklyn venues like Market Hotel, Baby’s All Right, and Brooklyn Steel that hosted shows in the 2000s.
Emo Night Brooklyn also spotlights today’s local emo and post-hardcore talent. While the headlining DJs play songs from the 2000s emo boom, each event features a live performance from an up-and-coming Brooklyn band that embodies the spirit of that era. For example, 3OH!3 and Mayday Parade have performed at Emo Night Brooklyn.
The visual aesthetic is slightly grittier than the typical Emo Night, with zines, local art, and DIY vendors setting up shop. The events also occasionally feature interactive art installations and graffiti from street artists who were part of the scene.
Music Selection
The music selection is the core element of any Emo Night. While both events include the 2000s hits any emo fan would expect, there are some subtle differences in the songs played:
Emo Night | Emo Night Brooklyn |
---|---|
Takes a national view of significant emo bands from the period | Focuses more on the local Brooklyn emo scene from that era |
Spins hits from platinum-selling rock crossover acts like My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco | Draws from grittier, underground Brooklyn bands like Saves the Day, The Movielife, Crime In Stereo |
Includes emo-pop/rock hits like Paramore “Misery Business” and All American Rejects “Dirty Little Secret” | Showcases more hardcore-leaning tracks like Glassjaw “Pretty Lush” and Silent Majority “Vicious Precious |
While both nights play the universally loved emo anthems, Emo Night Brooklyn caters to the regional tastes of New York-area fans. Someone attending Emo Night in their hometown is more likely to hear hyper-local cuts that wouldn’t resonate nationally.
Visual Aesthetic
Emo Night and Emo Night Brooklyn both deliver an immersive visual experience filled with 2000s emo style, though the vibe at each event differs:
Emo Night | Emo Night Brooklyn |
---|---|
Professional stage lighting and production values | Grungier DIY aesthetic with graffiti art |
Scene recreated with costumes, wigs, makeup stations | Patrons encouraged to dress in their authentic throwback threads |
Decor includes old photos, posters, memorabilia | Venue décor replicates actual Brooklyn music venues |
Photo booths, merch tables | Zines, local art, vendors at the merch booth |
Emo Night’s concept is to transport guests back in a almost Disney-like recreation of the heyday. Emo Night Brooklyn aims for patrons to feel they are at a show in the scene’s gritty underground height.
Contests and Games
In addition to the music, both events offer participatory contests and games to engage the crowd:
Emo Night | Emo Night Brooklyn |
---|---|
Emo dance-off contests | Emo karaoke singing popular tunes |
Mic swinging and guitar smashing reenactments | Crowd surfing and mosh pits more likely to break out |
Best dressed emo costume contests | Trivia contests about Brooklyn scene history |
Jumbo Jenga, cornhole and other carnival games | Nostalgic activities like playing snake on old Nokia phones |
The overall approach to contests and games aligns with the tone of each event – Emo Night’s are carnival-like spectacles while Emo Night Brooklyn’s leverage DIY activities true to the local scene.
Types of Attendees
Due to the differing vibes, each event tends to draw a slightly different mix of attendees reliving their glory days:
Emo Night | Emo Night Brooklyn |
---|---|
Younger millennials and Gen Z reliving a cultural phenomenon | Predominantly scene veterans who came of age in Brooklyn’s emo era |
New emo fans discovering music | Music purists who want to hear deep cuts |
Suburban teens modeling Warped Tour fashion | Gritty punks dressed in their original scene garb |
More mainstream alternative crowd | Counter-culture devotees celebrating their roots |
Emo Night draws fans from all backgrounds, while Emo Night Brooklyn caters to those directly entrenched in the OG scene.
Conclusion
While Emo Night and Emo Night Brooklyn both offer 2000s emo nostalgia, they have distinct flavors:
Emo Night takes a maximalist approach to recreating the emo era with over-the-top costumes, makeup, and on-brand games. The events have a populist appeal drawing in all types of alternative music fans.
Emo Night Brooklyn aims to authentically replicate the gritty Brooklyn scene through indie venues, local bands, and grassroots décor. The nights appeal almost exclusively to scene veterans longing for their days in the underground movement.
Regardless of which vibe you prefer, both Emo Night events satisfy that millennial itch for an angsty dose of youthful nostalgia set to the soundtrack of My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, and Brand New. So throw on that studded belt and get ready to cry-scream along!