REVIEW: Hawthorne Heights @ House of Blues 10/22
Photo Credit: Erica Vining
Review by Christian Oversvee-Choi
Under the neon glow of the theological marquee at Citizens House of Blues on Thursday, Oct. 22, three unique groups of energy-driven musicians took the stage in a bill that pleased skaters, moshers and goths alike. Hawthorne Heights, with support from Letlive and Creeper, are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their critically acclaimed emo masterpiece “If Only You Were Lonely” with the Lonely World: USA Part II tour, with Boston being the third stop.
Opening the show was the English goth rock outfit Creeper. They took the stage with a spooky, Vincent Price-style monologue featuring shrill orchestrals, then broke out into a hard-hitting rock tune that had fans and newcomers nodding along instantly.
The band’s look matched the goth vibe with skin-tight black jeans, leather jackets, sharp widow’s peaks and thick black eyeliner.
While paying tribute to classic genre tropes with droning synths and horror-filled lyrics, they deviate from the stereotypical moody vibe of traditional goth acts with hard rock grooves, dueling guitar solos, soaring melodic choruses and double-kick-driven breakdowns. Both vocalists Will Gould and Hannah Greenwood had a dynamic vocal range that perfectly encapsulated classic spooky lows while branching out with soaring highs and the occasional fry scream.
The creative mix of classic goth sound, modern rock and metalcore elements, fused with their high energy, made Creepers’ 30-minute set go by all too quickly and set high expectations for the rest of the night.
Up next on the bill was L.A. based modern hardcore moshers Letlive. The five-piece took the stage with swagger, no opening track, just feedback guitars. They then broke out into a heavy modern downtuned hardcore headbanger, with Knocked Loose-esque fries from vocalist Jason Aalon Butler. It didn’t take long for the floor to become a pit.
With a longer 45-minute set, Butler took time between songs to express the importance of male vulnerability, acceptance within the hardcore scene and the ability to communicate with people we may not agree with during turbulent times.
While the whole band exuded classic hardcore energy, Butler’s energy behind the mic was unmatched by any other performer of the night. From screaming in the middle of the mosh pit with a wired mic that had to be fished above the crowd, to turning the stage into a slip ‘n slide, his energy was only upped by his incredible vocal performance, which blended classic hardcore fries and beautiful melodic highs flawlessly.
From breakdown to breakdown, the “chaos bringers” of the night in Letlive were a perfect precursor to the more intimate headliner.
Finally, just before 9 p.m., Hawthorne Heights took the stage to themes from Twilight Zone and Halloween, before kicking into the heavy rhythmic riffing of “This Is Who We Are.” The audience immediately began singing along to the catchy, emotional chorus with the energy of a middle schooler coping with their first heartbreak.
The stage design of Hawthorne’s set was a big step up from the openers, with four large screens behind them displaying images of lightning, snow and wilting roses.
Despite celebrating the 20th anniversary of “If Only You Were Lonely,” the raw emotion and catchy melodies of Hawthorne Heights’ music proved timeless to audience members of all ages. From older folk on the balcony to elementary school crowd surfers and, of course, the millennials who grew up in heavy emo’s wake.
Singer and guitarist J.T. Woodruff expressed his appreciation for emo’s endurance after so many years, enthusiastically shouting, “Emo is not a phase!”
The band’s set flew by with heavy-hitting tracks like “Pens and Needles” and “Saying Sorry.” Before ending their main set with the emotional ballad “Decembers,” Woodruff gave more background on the song and album their tour is celebrating.
Woodruff explained how writing and recording “If Only You Were Lonely” came at the cost of missing a honeymoon with his wife, and shared his guilt about it even after all these years. That guilt manifests through the album’s raw, powerful emotion. When the band kicked into “Decembers,” fans began slow dancing in the middle of the floor instead of moshing.
After leaving the stage for a moment, the four-piece returned for a five-song encore, including hits like “Nikki FM” and “Like A Cardinal,” and ended the night with their most iconic hit, “Ohio Is For Lovers.” The crowd erupted when the opening guitar notes reverberated through the room. The unity of the audience really revealed itself in that closing number, with fans of all ages and backgrounds screaming “So cut my wrists and black my eyes” at the top of their lungs.
The energy-filled night was certainly a memorable experience, with three unique bands each bringing their distinct sounds and raw passion to the stage. The unique lineup and diverse fanbases were a true testament to the beauty and acceptance of the hardcore and emo communities. People sang, screamed, danced, moshed and everything in between, and they did it together.
Sure, emo is inherently depressing, but as Woodruff lamented, “We all go through dark times, but let’s go through them together.”