Concert Review by Yanely Luna
“Please stand for your national anthem.” The host exclaims, and nearly 200 people in ripped black jeans, band tees and dark eyeliner know exactly what is about to play. Everyone excitedly screams in preparation.
*G note blares*
The phone flashlights go up in the air as the song begins.
“Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance is an incredibly important song to nearly every person in this wide, dim room, just like so many of the other songs in the emo genre.
Emo Nite recognizes this, and they tour the country throwing parties for people who resonate with the lyrics of tons of emo songs. For this show at Eastside Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee, hundreds of people gathered to dance and sing together in this small, eccentric, well-decorated venue.
Throughout the night, the hosts, who aren’t a band nor DJs according to their website, called the crowd up to the stage to dance with them while they played all the classic emo bangers, such as “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” by Panic! at the Disco, “Weightless” by All Time Low and “MakeDamnSure” by Taking Back Sunday. The stage was full of life and joy as the flushed people jumped around and headbanged to the blasting beat of the speakers.
The great, accepting, fun and exciting environment of more than a hundred emo people singing along to the music that helped us all through our toughest times was enough to put a smile on anyone’s face. It was even a welcoming enough environment for a couple to feel comfortable enough to go on stage and propose in front of the whole crowd. It was an electric night full of love and warmth, even if the music didn't necessarily sound like it.
At that moment, we all knew that we were here, we were okay (or not okay), and we were alive. Growing up, many of the people dancing in that room felt lonely, and that is a heavy feeling for a child. Yet, we got through our darkest times and we made it to that night. This night of dancing, partying and bliss as we scream our lungs out without worry of what’s to come. With the help of Emo Nite, everyone was able to exist for one night in their lives without stress of work or relationships or of people watching you - everyone was just having a wonderful time singing and dancing. We were all able to celebrate being there at Eastside Bowl, with a room full of people who have all felt like us.
At Eastside Bowl, they had a full bar at the show and a cute upstairs balcony with four or more separate couch seating areas and color coded lights lit up with the words "good vibes." It was a nice cozy vibe on the balcony, but people were still certainly not shy about dancing. It was a lively venue, and they had a photobooth to save the memory with your friends. This venue is welcoming and fun, especially since you can bowl right before the show and make a whole night out of it. It was incredibly fun and exciting.