It Was Never A Phase! Hawthorne Heights at First Ave. Proved Parents Everywhere Wrong!

Howdy howdy folks! This was an awesome show that I’d been really looking forward to, and it definitely delivered.

Opening the night was Creeper, a band I hadn’t heard before going in. That changed pretty quickly though. They came out with a lot of energy right away, and it didn’t take long to notice how many people in the crowd were already big fans. I even saw a few people sporting the same makeup as the band, which was a pretty fun thing to see before they even started playing.

The band sounded great live too. The two vocalists had some really strong moments going back and forth, and they both spent time interacting with the crowd throughout the set. Their voices cover a pretty wide range, and that really came through in a live setting. Pretty fun to hear some semi-traditional goth rock and classic looks on stage as well.

They also made the trip all the way from England for this tour, which was pretty cool to see since it’s not a band I would normally expect to catch around here. Judging by the reaction from the crowd, they already have a pretty dedicated following, and after checking out more of their music afterward, they’re definitely a band I’d go see again when they come back through.

LETLIVE!

This was a band that I didn’t realize I had heard before, but once they started playing it clicked pretty quickly. From this show alone though, they easily became one of my favorite live performers of the night, and if they roll through town again I will absolutely be there.

Frontman Jason Aalon Butler came out with an unbelievable amount of energy right from the start. Within the first couple songs he was already climbing all over the stage setup, jumping off stacked amps, and at one point even making his way offstage and up toward the rafters. Watching him hang and move around up there while still performing was completely wild to see in person. It was one of those moments where the whole crowd kind of stopped for a second just to watch what he was going to do next.

The band ripped through a tight set too, hitting songs like Banshee (Ghost Fame) and Muther, which got the crowd moving pretty quickly. The pits started opening up during the heavier parts, but the set also had a good mix of dynamics. There were moments where the band would pull things back a bit before ramping the energy right back up again.

Butler also took some time between songs to talk to the crowd about community and how important rooms like First Avenue are for music and the people who care about it. Those moments actually landed really well with the audience and gave the set a little more depth beyond just the chaos happening on stage.

All in all, this was an incredibly energetic performance and easily one of the most memorable sets of the night. It’s the kind of band that you really have to see live to get fully. I highly, highly implore you to check them out live when you can!

Ending the night was our headliner and sweethearts, Hawthorne Heights!

Celebrating the anniversary of their album If Only You Were Lonely by playing it in full, this was clearly the moment a lot of people in the room had been waiting for. Once the band started working through the record track by track, the whole place felt pretty locked in.

With such an energetic set before it, it was almost a little hard to settle back into the groove of some classic emo hits at first. Still, who doesn’t love Hawthorne Heights? Singing along to all the songs quickly pulled everyone right back in.

Some of my favorite moments actually came toward the end, when vocalist JT Woodruff stepped up onto the barricade to get closer to the crowd. The interactions there were really sweet and showed that sense of community the band has always been known for. A whole wave of crowdsurfers followed right after too. It was just a cool moment all around, and I even had to make my way into the pit (shoutout to the two guys who held my camera bag for me) to get some closer photos.

One of the cooler stories came during Decembers, when Woodruff told the crowd the song was actually written about his girlfriend at the time, who is now his wife. It was a small detail, but it gave the song a little extra weight, and you could hear the crowd singing it right back.

After finishing the album set, the band came back out for an encore that had the whole room moving again. They played Dandelions, Niki FM, and also brought out their newer track Like a Cardinal. It was a nice mix of nostalgia and something new, and it felt like a strong way to close out a night that was already full of energy.

This was my second time seeing Hawthorne Heights, and both times have not disappointed in the slightest. If you are looking for your emo home and a community that shows up for the love of the music, do not miss the next one.