When my boss, Marc, asked me if I liked emo music, I shrugged and said ”sure.” Truthfully, I knew two things about emo music: It involves screaming and kids in tight jeans. But, in the spirit of expanding my musical horizons, and proving to Marc that I was cool, I agreed to go to my very first emo concert. ”’Great!,” said Marc. ”I really want to see Emery, but Scary Kids Scaring Kids is playing too."
And that’s when I got nervous.
Scary Kids Scaring Kids? Sweet name, but did I have enough black in my wardrobe to be a fan? And who was this band Emery (pictured)? Wasn’t emery that abrasive mineral? What if, at the concert, my eardrums exploded? What if someone launched me into a mosh pit? I had walked past a Hot Topic once or twice before, would the concert kind of be like that? I felt like I should call my mom and ask for permission to go. I wondered where I could get black nail polish on short notice. I practiced looks of teen angst. I yelled ”No one GETS me” to no one in particular. I wikipedia’ed ‘Emo.’
Convinced the concert would suck, I was trying to invent polite ways to tell Marc that emo music wasn’t my thing, and then Emery came on stage. And 30 seconds into their first song, I relaxed.
Turns out, I love emo music!
Before, if had you told me I’d enjoy a song with the title ”After The Devil Beats His Wife,” or that I’d be dancing around to the beat of ”Can’t Stop The Killer,” I’d say you were out of your ever-loving-emo-mind. But Emery blew me (though thankfully, not my eardrums) away, and I even bought their CD, I’m Only a Man, after the concert. I never buy the CDs at concerts.
"I know this is gonna sound emo," yelled Emery vocalist Toby Morell, ”But you guys have the power to make a difference! You can change the world!” So maybe that made me roll my eyes, but the guitarist and keyboardist could throw their musical instruments twenty feet into the air, catch them, and continue playing, so I awarded them bonus points for technical difficulty, creativity, and for not nailing themselves in the head.
Any other Emery fans out there? Any PopWatchers with emo playlist suggestions? Ever felt musically adventurous and stumbled into a genre you never thought you’d like? We’ll let’s hear your stories!
I hate to be a brat, but how does someone who does not know what emo is end up writing for EW? It’s been around for like 10-15 years, for gosh sakes!
I applaud your flexibility–I haven’t tried to expand my musical horizons in a good couple of years
If you want to start with the basics of emo, I’d suggest some Dashboard Confessional and Taking Back Sunday. Can’t get more basic emo than that…
I love Emery! Definitely check out their second CD-The Question. Other good emo bands to check out include Senses Fail, Motion City Soundtrack, The Forecast, Sugarcult, and my personal favorite: Anberlin.
i had a friend take me to one of their shows and became a fan too. they’re definitely a really great band to see live.
emery is pretty good. but i gotta agree with the person who said anberlin is their favorite. they are so freaking amazing, especially live!!
Okay. So I have looked all over your website and cannot find any other place to do this.
What is up with the new design?? Those windows on the front page keep lengthening and shortening for no apparent reason, preventing me from easily clicking on Popwatch. I have accidentally clicked on the Hollywood Insider twice today. I have no problem with ads, large photos, and even video loading onto the front page, but let’s keep it relatively static. It makes me not want to come to the site. Please help.
Do not think that the following bands are emo: Jimmy Eat World, My Chemical Romance, sugarcult, taking back sunday, and anything on the Fueled by Ramen label(Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, Paramore etc.)
I don’t know if Hot Hot Heat would be considered emo or not, but they are definitely amazing. And Paramore isn’t so bad. Couldn’t say the same for Panic! At The Disco. My friend was listening to their first album and wanted to know why she was listening to the same song for the whole album. All their songs sound the same.
And Theo, Panic! At The Disco couldn’t get more emo…
Can you please bring News Roundup back? Just saying..yeah
Congrats Gretchen, you’ve written one of the most annoying PW posts ever.
gotta say you have me laughing every time. I dont knoe who these people are but your take on the “emo” genre is hilarious. love it.
calling emery emo is definitely a stretch, but defintiely check out their second cd (the question). it’s much much better than i’m only a man
Now I’m beginning to regret saying I wanted to see more music reviews in this column… I agree with Theo, don’t call every young band that wears black “emo” please.
“I wikipedia’ed ‘Emo.’”
Did you actually READ the Wikipedia article on emo? Because it sure doesn’t seem like it.