From 80's Night to Emo Nites: How A Generation Found Their Own Dance Floor
From 80's Night to Emo Nites: How A Generation Found Their Own Dance Floor
By: Becca - BeccaOnRepeat
Edited By: Catherine/CZB
Growing up, we would have decade days in school: would you show up as a 70's hippie or an 80's disco kid? We saw our parents escape to 80's nights to relive their youth. We grew up witnessing the pull of nostalgia, long before we had a name for it.
As our generation grew up, we found our own version of that release through Emo Nite.
What started as a nostalgic club night amongst friends has become a lasting cultural phenomenon. Carlos, a rep for Emo Nite who hosts in many east coast cities, including Baltimore, VA and DC, sat down with NAPNET to talk about what's made Emo Nite so special.
1. From your perspective running Emo Nites on the East Coast, did you expect the crowd to be mostly nostalgia driven? How has the crowd shifted over time in the cities you work in?
I feel the crowd is a good balance of nostalgic folk mixed in with a younger crowd.
You’ll have someone who will remember Pierce The Veil’s Yeah Boy and Doll Face but then someone who knows So Far So Fake because of TikTok running with it for a trend.
Having that balance definitely helps drive the night. And every city is different, some songs might work in MD but VA might feel differently towards that song. It’s always a balance but once you find the hook, you’re in.
2. How do you decide what makes the playlist each night? Are there songs that have become non-negotiable at every night that you didn't expect?
We have those staple songs like Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar We’re Goin Down,” Blink 182’s “Feeling This” and etc. that are always non-negotiable but then when we see some songs react with the crowd, they become a definite must play!
The All American Reject’s “Move Along” also became one that we have to play since the breakdown is so calm & quiet that we can direct the crowd front to back, side to side to move and jump when the song comes back in!
3. In your experience, what does the community look like beyond singing and dancing at the event?
From running Emo Nite’s in DC, MD and VA, you see people who end up coming to all three states for the shows. We see many familiar faces in the community spaces.
When we go out to shows at the same venues we host in, people who are in the crowd/working recognize us and let us know “We’re here with our friends that we met at Emo Nite!” or “Can’t wait for the next Emo Nite!”
4. Have you seen friendships, bands, or other creative projects come out of Emo Nite?
Yup, yup… not only have I made friends throughout Emo Nite in my states, but the friends made spans across the country and even up into Canada. I’ve seen people who have come alone, leave with new friends. Old faces come back for the first time in years and not a single beat has skipped. The community really comes together when Emo Nite comes back into town.
5. Emo Nite has been around for over 10 years and is bigger than ever. From your perspective, what do you think has helped sustain that momentum?
The constant change.
Adapting to newer music coming out and coming back into our lives after not listening to a certain album for years. And our founders, T.J. Petracca and Morgan Freed, created Grave Rave which meshes EDM and Emo into one massive party! It’s like they said; Before you liked EDM you liked EMO.
6. What's the biggest misconception people have about Emo Nite?
That it sucks.
We know everything isn’t for everyone but concerts have been getting really expensive as of late.
For example MCR, tickets going for $420+ a pop and you’re up in the nosebleeds.
You wanna go but times are tough, that price is way too expensive and is out of your budget. You’re bummed & feeling down but a friend asks you to come to Emo Nite to hear those same songs being played and then some. Yeah Gerard Way isn’t singing them in a stadium but a room full of people experiencing the same feelings that you are sure does help heal those FOMO concert woes.
And it helps to cure post concert depression. Clinically proven to do so.
7. Who's been your favorite guest DJ at an Emo Nite and why?
Oh there have been so many! To think of one is difficult.
But I think having Shane Told of Silverstein come to a back to back Emo Nite in Virginia was a highlight. We got to get to know one another and he’s awesome and an amazing pinball player. I didn’t know you could get so good!
8. What's one behind-the-scenes challenge of running Emo Nite that people may not realize?
Not freaking out when you’re starting the nite out haha. It’s nerve racking to be the center of attention at the start of it all. So many people are staring at you that I get nervous easily. But once that first song kicks in and you let worries float away, it becomes so much easier!
9. What's the most unhinged thing you've witnessed at an Emo Nite?
Loaded question. I’ve seen people flashing others, people making out with not their boyfriend/girlfriend, breakups and vomiting etc. But the most I would think of is someone shitting near the bathrooms at Ottobar. They almost made it but weren't fully there.
10. As the scene continues to evolve, how do the Emo Nites you host balance nostalgia while also making space for newer bands and fans?
Simple, we make space and time for both the nostalgic hits and the newer bands putting out their work. We go old school with 90’s Green Day and Third Eye Blind and
then bring it all the way up with Honey Revenge’s Airhead and The Home Team’s Loud. TikTok is a great tool to use and see what is coming back into rotation like Pierce The Veil’s King for a Day and Wheatus’s Teenage Dirtbag.
And Emo Nite is all-inclusive for everyone. Doesn’t matter if you’ve been there every single time or if it’s your first time; there is a place for you at Emo Nite!
If you’ve never been to an Emo Nite, they host parties across the country. You can catch Carlos at the upcoming shows:
February 13th at the Ottobar (Baltimore)
March 7th at The NorVa (Norfolk, VA)
