“We all change. When you think about it, we are all different people, all through our lives, and that’s okay, that’s good. You’ve gotta keep moving, so long as you remember all the people that you used to be.” – The Doctor
Times change, people change, and despite all of this, nostalgia-driven concerts will always have a place.
The fine people at To Write Love On Her Arms presented the Hope Revolution Tour, bringing along with them a great lineup, including Hawthorne Heights, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Famous Last Words, Everybody Run, and many more. Since the two headlining acts came straight from my high school mix CDs, the venue that will house all of this is my old stomping grounds, the Emerson Theater.
I haven’t been to the Emerson in years, and part of that is a conscious effort. Sure, I’ve had some great times here and many of my favorite bands still play here, but I’m in my mid-20s, and going to an all-ages venue kind of feels weird. However, TWLOHA is an organization I think highly of, and the positive vibes and the feeling of seeing two bands I used to listen to when I was in high school is still exciting (is this how fans of the Rolling Stones or Journey feel in the present day?). So here we go. I’ve parked on an adjacent street, picked up my credentials, and had a lovely conversation with Chad Moses of TWLOHA. Time to hop in my proverbial TARDIS (French for “red SUV”) and re-live my high school days (minus the acne and some of the social awkwardness).
Before I can relive my high school days, we have a pair of local acts set to take the stage in the form of Voices and Crunkasaurus Rex. Sure, their sets are generally 20 or so odd minutes long, but it’s one of my favorite qualities of this place. They give people a place to play.
Anyway, onto the music: Voices looked and sounded like many of the hardcore acts I’ve seen many times on this very stage, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Their sound is solid and they have a firm grasp on what they want to do, and aside from a little awkwardness (they were the first band), they’re pretty entertaining. What maybe hurt the most was the modest crowd we have at the moment and the only ones who are showing any life right now are their friends that they brought with them. Overall, there’s a lot to like here. It might not be too long before we see a room full of kids moshing to this.
For Crunkasaurus Rex, it’s a happy hardcore group of kids who love to have fun. They’re energetic, their sound is on-point, and save for a few technical issues, they have it down. Again, the lack of crowd participation might have hurt their performance (it’s still pretty early), but as far as “warmup bands” go, I’d say they picked the right 2 for the job. It’s going to be a long night, but with bands like these, it might just fly by.
More people are starting to file in, and it’s around this time that I’m starting to take in my surroundings. I haven’t been here in a while, and although some things haven’t changed (it’s still really dark, the ceiling fans don’t work, and some of the seats along the walls have seen better days), I’m pleasantly surprised by some of the changes. The sound system is much better, a few soundproof panels now line the walls (neighbors used to complain about noise on occasion), and it overall feels like it’s being run by people who care. Can more be done? Absolutely, but I’m liking the progress they’re making.
Back to music. We’ve got a lot of bands to cover and not a lot of time to do it. We’re done with the local acts. Our next two features New York-based rockers Senick and Idaho metal outfit The Ongoing Concept.
Many shows at this place tend to have a lot of variety, and these two couldn’t have been bigger opposites. Senick was more upbeat and cheery for their brief set, while The Ongoing Concept brought chaos in the form running out into the dance pit and doing flips and playing drums out on the floor, almost like they were going for a Chariot-ish vibe. Thought both are very different, there was no battle for the audience. Everyone wins. The few who knew the words sang along, and there was even a moment of organizing a small wall of death in the pit. There’s a lot of camaraderie going on, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Four down and four to go. There’s a decent-sized crowd in this room now, and the ones who started the pit are now sitting down in a circle in the middle of the floor and inviting others to join in until they encompass almost the entire middle section. Seeing as this is a show being put on by TWLOHA, it’s kind of appropriate.
For this tour, it’s a revolving door of supporting acts, with some bands appearing on select dates. Tonight, we get to see Everybody Run (well, the band “Everybody Run.” You get it, right?). They get a little more time to please the crowd with their energetic pop punk, and that they do. Admittedly, I’m starting to get a little fatigued, (another sign of my age?), but I do admire their energy, as well as the crowd response. Leading up to this point, they’ve been properly warmed up and are continuing to dance and mosh the night away. Alright, maybe they’re not the most unique band in the world, but they are entertaining, and that’s what counts the most.
I’ll admit this: every time I see the name of this next band, all I keep thinking is “I am not afraid to keep on living, I am not afraid to walk this world alone.” Even one person walking around this place is wearing the old My Chemical Romance shirt with these words inscribed across the front. I loved MCR and The Black Parade is one of my favorite records, so naturally, you could imagine my skepticism for a band called Famous Last Words.”
On the surface, it sounds like the name of an MCR tribute band. In reality, this is a post-hardcore outfit with its own identity. They weave seamlessly through pop-oriented numbers and more metal-influenced tunes. What sounds like it should be an identity crisis actually works for them. Their sound is very tight, performance-wise, they’re all on the same page, and this crowd is just eating everything up. It’s been a long night, and I’m a little surprised the moshing is still going on. Those who aren’t in the pit sing along. Overall, this was a pleasant surprise, and definitely a nice way to segue into the main event of the evening.
I have to wake up early the next morning, and while one eye is on the clock, my other is on the stage. I’ve had plenty of times to see Red Jumpsuit Apparatus over the years, and I’ve never jumped at that opportunity. Tonight, that changes. I may only know a handful of songs (including the two everyone knows), but I’m anxious to revisit 2006. I may never say those words again, mind you.
They’ve released several more records since breaking out onto the scene with Don’t You Fake It, but there was still plenty of love for the older songs. For a band that’s been around as long as these guys, they still know how to capture an audience. They know the songs that the audience will react to, they encourage participation, and their main goal seems to be making sure that everyone has a great time. They admit that it’s been a while since they came back to Indy, and there’s plenty of excitement from both sides. The band is excited to play here, and the crowd couldn’t be happier to see them (this includes me).
Some of the moshing has died down by this point, but mostly because this has been replaced by dancing and singing the night away, from the more aggressive “In Fate’s Hands,” to, of course, the acoustic ballad “Your Guardian Angel,” featuring guest vocals from frontman Ronnie Winter’s girlfriend.
I’m not as young as I used to be, and even though fatigue is setting in, I can still muster the energy to belt out “Facedown” when they end their set with it. Hey, I’ve waited almost 8 years for this. I’m going to take advantage of it.
One headliner down, and one to go. The stage is being set up for our final act, and while that is going on, Chad Moses takes the stage to talk for a few moments about TWLOHA. He reminds everyone that despite what you may think, there is help and there is hope for people struggling with their various demons. There’s a lot of community in this building right now, and there’s no reason we can’t take that same kind of thinking outside of these walls.
This nostalgia trip isn’t over yet. We still have one more, and this is the one that is really making me feel old. Maybe it’s because of the stage banners that have the number “10” along with the cover of The Silence in Black and White, or maybe it’s because I still remember hearing one of their songs on a sampler I receive from buying a Taking Back Sunday album, or perhaps it’s because they’re the one band from my awkward teenage years that seems to be sticking around longer than most expected. Whatever it is, I’m kind of excited to see Hawthorne Heights. Much like our last act, I only know a handful of songs, but that’s never stopped me before.
Before too long, the lights go out and the band takes to the stage. Keep in mind, this is 10 years after their debut record, and in that time, they’ve matured, outgrown their emo image, and have gone from a group of kids from Dayton, OH to a band that’s known all over the world. Yet, they still maintain the same drive and charm that made them a hit all those years ago. They’re just as engaging, and there’s something to be said for how much heart they still put into those old songs.
Speaking of old songs, that was a large chunk of their setlist. Seeing as they’re celebrating 10 years of their debut album, they played all 11 songs, and threw a couple of new-ish songs in there for good measure to round out the rest of it. As for the crowd, it’s a nice mixture of high school kids and people around my age who wearing all black and growing their hair out over their eyes when they were 16. Then a thought hits me: is this how people who grew up with the Rolling Stones or Journey feel when they go to one of their shows today? Is this going to be my nostalgia-driven concert experience? Will I be the one telling kids I saw them perform since before they were born? Will I be that guy? Let’s worry about that later and just get back to the music.
Much of it feels like a trip down memory lane, which is probably the point. Where the band is now may not hold up as well as it used to, but as long as there are still teenagers who cling to this music and people like me who want to relive past memories, there will always be an audience for a show like this. Some of the older songs come off as unusual at times, but you have to admire HH’s passion and their energy. There’s still a lot of heart in those songs, and they still have a lot to give.
Assuming because it’s starting to get late, there’s no encore, but there is one last sing-along in the form of “Ohio Is For Lovers.” For a few moments, there isn’t a silent voice out in the crowd. This is what put them on the map, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to this part of the evening. Overall, it’s a great way to end this trip to the past. From here, the once-lively room is starting to file out or hit up the merch tables located in the lobby. As for me, it’s back to my car so I can think how I can sum this night up.
Three weeks later.
This definitely took me longer to write than I imagined it would (sorry!). The Hope Revolution Tour has wrapped up, and now I’m sitting here on my couch wondering if this is something that will stick with me because it was good or because I finally got to see bands from my high school days.
To be honest, it’s a little bit of both.
A wise (fictional) Doctor once said “when you think about it, we’re all different people all through our lives, and that’s okay. That’s good. You gotta keep moving, so long as you remember all the people that you used to be.” I know I always have to keep looking forward to what’s next or who’s new in the music world, but sometimes it’s fun to go back and listen to those bands from the past. They may have grown and matured both musically and personally, but they still carry with them the same heart and passion that captured the hearts of many.
In short, I’ll go back to living in the now, but I reserve the right to visit the past every now and then.
The Good:
Outside of the obvious nostalgia trip, this was a very well-rounded show. Between the local and supporting acts, it was a well-rounded lineup, all of which meshed with each other without making one feel like the odd one out.
The Bad:
It was kind of long. We’re talking close to 6 straight hours of music with not much of a break. Then again, maybe I’m just showing my age. I know when I was younger, being music’d out was the last thing I’d complain about.