All’s Well That Ends Well!
Concert Review: Chiodos, Hawthorne Heights, Emmure, and The Callous Daoboys
By: Nora Merlino
This tour was a straight throwback to my early days in the scene. As soon as it was announced, I knew I had to be there. It had been too long since seeing any of the bands live, and I was ready!
The Callous Daoboys
This is the only band on the lineup that I had not listened to previously, so I made sure to get there early to catch them, and it was worth it. They have an incredible stage presence, and the feminine energy on stage was a nice bonus in a very male-dominated scene. They opened with their song “The Demon of Unreality Limping Like A Dog” and I was immediately hooked. I truly loved every minute of their set, and the violin was a great touch! They ended “Fake Dinosaur Bones,” which, based on everything I’ve read, is one of their more popular songs. Definitely check them out next time they are in your area!
Emmure
Where do I even start?! I have been around from the early days of Emmure. The first time I saw them was at a dive bar in Queens, NY. However, this is the first time I have seen them without the original lineup, and I was pleasantly surprised at how perfect it all still sounded. Frankie’s vocals never miss! Opening their set with “You Asked For It” was a hell of a way to get everyone moving. I know these guys had gotten big, but I wasn’t sure how the Texas crowd would be vs the hometown shows I am used to with them. I couldn’t wait to get up in the balcony to check it out, and it did not disappoint. They closed with my favorite (and I’m sure an overall fan favorite) “When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong”. “Won’t you be my bride” is still playing over and over in my head! I’m stoked to see these guys still going strong.
Hawthorne Heights
These guys have been in my top 10 for a long time. I remember seeing them at Warped and Bamboozle in the early 00s, and they sound exactly the same. Some people get frustrated with their chats, but personally, I enjoy them. JT is incredibly uplifting and overall a very kind person. He got a great laugh from everyone when he referred to the people in the pit as the “Elder Emos” and called the ones in the balcony seats “401k Emos whose backs won’t hurt in the morning”. I wish I had it on video, the reactions were priceless! They opened with “The Storm,” which is off their 2023 album, “Lost Lights,” and closed with the well-known “Ohio is for Lovers”. They were selling a Texas is for Lovers shirt too, which I caught a few people wearing. One of the best things I saw was a second-gen emo kid singing along at the barricade. I often bring my kids to shows, and it’s so nice to see other parents doing the same. The scene will never die! JT hung out at the merch table after their set for the rest of the night, and I love when bands do that. Brings you right back to those warped tour tent days.
Chiodos
I was introduced to Chiodos in their early days through another local NY band. They caught my attention immediately and I was front and center for their first year at Bamboozle. When this tour got announced, it was like a full circle moment – all my favorites from 20 years ago are BACK! Craig walked out to their Prelude, and they went right into “All Nereids Beware”. At one point, he had the entire crowd squat down to jump up together. He also gave a very soulful performance while singing “We’re Gunna Have Us A Champagne Jam”. Listening to all these songs live again was truly like unlocking a time capsule. They ended with “Baby You Wouldn’t Last A Minute On The Creek”.
