School of Emo

Today's episode is a full recap of the Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party Tour from Hayley Williams, featuring Water From Your Eyes on April 28, 2026 at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville TN. Aka Hayley's Ryman Residency I'll share my experience with the venue, merch, and surprises during the set!  If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today's episode is a full recap of the I Love You But I Chose The Maine Tour, featuring Moody Joody, Grayscale, and Nightly on April 24, 2026 at Marathon Music Works in Nashville TN. I'll share my experience with the venue, merch, and surprises during the set!  If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today's band started in the neon-lit, MySpace-heavy world of late 2000s pop-punk… but instead of fading out, they evolved, adapted, and became one of the most successful independent bands in the modern alternative scene. This is The Maine, a band defined not just by their music, but by their commitment to doing things their own way. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

  Today's band is one of the most respected, consistent, and emotionally grounded acts in the emo and punk scenes. They were never the trendiest band. Never the flashiest. But they've built something arguably more powerful: longevity, loyalty, and a catalog full of songs that feel like hard-earned truth. This is Bayside, a band defined by resilience, tragedy, and unwavering connection with their fans. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

There are a lot of debates in the emo world. What band started it. What band ruined it. What band isn't actually emo, even though it absolutely soundtracked your teenage breakdowns. But today's debate? It's personal. Because today, I'm building my Emo Mount Rushmore. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today's band represents a different generation of the scene… not the MySpace era, but what came after. The revival. The backlash. The bands that brought pop-punk back to its raw, aggressive roots. This is The Story So Far, a band known for fast songs, brutal honesty, and lyrics that feel less like poetry and more like confrontation. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

This episode is a live reaction about the Emo's Not Dead Cruise 2027 lineup announcement… because yes, we decided to cruise another year!  Want to be on the boat in 2027 with us? Get all the details here: https://www.endcruise.com/ If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today's band sits right at the intersection of pop-punk energy and emo vulnerability. A band that didn't always get labeled 'emo' — but absolutely helped define the emotional core of the early 2000s scene. This is The Starting Line, the band behind one of the most iconic opening lines in pop-punk history: "Tell me what you thought about when you were gone…'" If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today's band is one of the most ambitious and unconventional groups to ever come out of the emo and post-hardcore world. A band that mixed progressive rock, sci-fi storytelling, and emotional intensity into something completely unique.   This is Coheed and Cambria, the band behind the sprawling science-fiction saga known as The Amory Wars.   If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today's band is synonymous with emotional honesty, piano-driven pop-punk, and some of the most devastating breakup songs of the 2000s. A band whose early years were marked by meteoric rise and one of the most talked-about internal splits in emo history. This is Mayday Parade, a band that soundtracked teenage heartbreak, adult regret, and the long road toward healing. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today's band is one of the most debated, beloved, and emotionally complicated groups in post-hardcore history. A band whose name means 'small heart' in Chinese, but whose impact on the 2000s emo scene was anything but small. This is the story of Saosin, a band defined by soaring melodies, shifting vocalists, and a fanbase that never stopped arguing about which era was best. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today's episode is a full recap of Story of the Year's album release show on February 14, 2026 at The Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri and a review of their latest album A.R.S.O.N. I'll share what happened with the album release day, the venue, the set, and my thoughts on this new album.  If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today we're talking about a group whose sound became shorthand for midwestern longing, quiet heartache, and emotional clarity without screaming… a band that took whispers and made them unforgettable. This is American Football,  the Urbana, Illinois trio whose lone 1999 record took years to catch on… and then never stopped. By the end of this episode, you'll understand how a quiet college band became emo legend, why their music resonates like memory itself, and how their story reflects the way emo can grow up with us. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today, we're talking about a chapter of emo history that's a little overlooked, but deeply influential: the intersection of Christian youth group culture and the rise of the third wave emo/post-hardcore scene in the early 2000s. This was an era where kids came out mosh pits on Saturdays to youth groups on Sundays. Where faith, frustration, introspection, and hardcore collided in ways that shaped how we felt music. We'll explore the bands that bridged that gap, how faith influenced lyrics and communities, the way youth pastors unintentionally guided teens toward moshing, and how fans remember it all.  If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

This episode is a full review of my second sail away on the Emo's Not Dead Cruise - we talk about the setup of the bigger boat this year, activities on board, sets by some of our favorite emo artists, and more! Want to be on the boat in 2027? Get all the details here: https://www.endcruise.com/ If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today, we're prepping for the Emo's Not Dead Cruise 2026, which I'm currently on upon posting this episode!  I'll talk about the process up signing up, the band lineup, the schedule and all there is to do on the ship, how I'm packing, and some of my predictions and hopes for the cruise!  If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today's band is loud, vulnerable, chaotic, deeply self-aware, and somehow the most relatable emo act of the last decade. A band that brought raw emotion back to the center of the genre… without polishing the edges or watering anything down: Hot Mulligan — the band that made yelling about anxiety feel like group therapy. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today's band helped bridge the gap between second-wave emo and the pop-punk explosion of the early 2000s. They wrote songs about heartbreak, regret, and longing, but made them catchy enough that we screamed along anyway: Saves the Day, one of the most quietly influential bands in emo history. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today, we're reflecting over some of my favorite EMOments of 2025 and the EMOments I'm looking forward to in 2026, along with a few manifestations for this channel in the coming year.  If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMOment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today's band is one of the most dramatic, controversial, and hotly debated names in mid-2000s emo and post-hardcore. A band born out of Las Vegas chaos, shaped by legal trouble, and forever tied to one of the most polarizing frontmen the scene has ever known. Today, we're talking about Escape the Fate, and yes, we are absolutely diving deep into the Ronnie Radke era, his exit, and what the band became after. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today's episode is a full recap of Silverstein's 25th Anniversary Tour featuring Thursday, Free Throw, and Bloom on December 17, 2025 at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, Tennessee. I'll share what happened logistically with the venue and merch, the sets from each of the bands, and my overall experience of the show.  If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today, we're diving into a band that's both a technical powerhouse and an emotional anchor for an entire generation of fans. A band known for their dizzying riffs, explosive drums, holiday metal albums, and iconic circle pits at every festival from Warped to Christmas shows. Today we're talking about August Burns Red, the Pennsylvania metalcore titans who turned melody and mayhem into an art form. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today, we're talking about a band that blended Christian metalcore, synth-driven chaos, and emo-adjacent lyricism into something totally their own.  Yep, we're diving into The Devil Wears Prada, the Ohio kids who went from Myspace buzz band to metalcore mainstays. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today we're diving into a band that's become a staple of the modern emo revival: Mom Jeans. Formed in California but beloved all over the internet, Mom Jeans. are equal parts nostalgic, self-deprecating, and emotionally honest. Their sound feels like a mixtape of slacker emo, early 2000s pop-punk hooks, and indie rock. Over nearly a decade, they've grown, experimented, and connected deeply with their fans. In this episode, we're going to walk through their origin story, their biggest records, turning points (both personal and musical), some controversies, and what makes their fan community so special. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today we're diving headfirst into one of the most chaotic, virtuosic, and polarizing forces in post-hardcore: Dance Gavin Dance.  If you know them, you know the serrated guitar lines, the dizzying time-signature gymnastics, the pairing of pristine clean singing and frenetic screams. And, yes, the famously complicated lineup history. If you don't know them… strap in. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today we're talking about a band that mastered the balance between chaos and catharsis… The legends of Canadian post-hardcore: Silverstein. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today we're diving into one of the cornerstone acts of early‐2000s emo/post-hardcore: Senses Fail.  We'll cover their history, album by album, and how they impacted the broader emo/post‐hardcore scene. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today we're taking a full ride through the history of one of the early-2000s icons: Story of the Year. Formed in St. Louis, Missouri, they emerged at the height of the emo/pop-punk explosion and went on to release anthems that many of you probably had on repeat. We'll go through their formation, band members, each of their major albums, what they've been up to lately, and reflect on their place in emo history. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today, we're talking about a band that somehow made teenage angst hilarious… and then, eventually, heartbreaking. A band that blurred the lines between skate punk, pop punk, and emo to become one of the most iconic groups of the late 90s and early 2000s. Yep… we're diving deep into the story of Blink-182. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today, we're talking about a band that not only carved out their own space in emo but also challenged the genre's male-dominated image. A band led by one of the most iconic frontwomen in modern rock: Paramore. With their anthems of heartbreak, resilience, and self-discovery, Paramore became more than just another Warped Tour success story. They became a symbol for a whole generation of young fans, especially women, who finally saw themselves represented in the emo scene. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today, we're talking about one of the biggest names to ever emerge from the early 2000s emo explosion—a band that took emo from VFW halls and Myspace pages all the way to MTV, the Grammys, and stadium tours. That's right—today's lesson is on Fall Out Boy. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today, we're going back to one of the bands that helped define how "emo" intersects with mainstream rock, with pop hooks, vulnerability, and staying power. We're talking about Jimmy Eat World… their history, their musical evolution, the hurdles they faced, controversies, how they carved their place in the emo scene, and what they've given to us over nearly three decades. We'll go through their formation, the albums, key songs, the lows and highs, and also how they fit into the broader emo landscape.  If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today's episode is a full recap of Sleep Token's Even in Arcadia tour on September 22, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. I'll share what happened logistically with the venue and merch, the set and performance of the band, and my overall experience of the show.  Setlist playlist I referenced: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2ezRkr0OB35VDeV9O2npLT?si=ccae3690262448c8 If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today, we're going into one of the most mysterious, theatrical, and divisive acts in modern metal/emo: Sleep Token — who they are, how they got here, what they believe they are doing, and how their presence stirs up as much admiration as it does controversy. We'll talk about their origin story and lore, the mask-and-mystique, where they sit in the genre map (emo, metal, alt-pop, etc.), how their fandom has grown and changed, their current tour, and some of the criticisms and debates around them. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today's episode is a full recap of A Day to Remember and Yellowcard's Maximum Fun Tour on September 7, 2025 at Budweiser Stage in Toronto, Canada. I'll share what happened logistically with the venue and merch, the sets from each of the bands, and my overall experience of the show.  If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today we're heading down to Ocala, Florida to talk about one of the most unique bands to come out of the 2000s scene—A Day to Remember. They weren't just another Warped Tour staple. They were the band that said, 'Why not both?'—mixing breakdowns that could level a venue with hooks that could land them on mainstream radio. They've been called pop-punk. They've been called metalcore. But really? They carved out their own lane. Today we're going to walk through their history, how the members' lives shaped the music, every album they released, and the moments that made ADTR such a defining band—not just for fans, but for the genre itself." If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today we're talking about one of the most unique bands to ever hit the emo and pop-punk scene—Yellowcard. They weren't just another Warped Tour staple. They brought something different to the table: a violin. And not just as a gimmick, but as a centerpiece of their sound. From Ocean Avenue's massive success to messy internal conflicts, a heartbreaking breakup, and ultimately, a triumphant reunion—this is the full story of Yellowcard. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo.  

Today we're tackling one of the biggest, most controversial, and most influential punk rock bands of all time. A band that took scrappy East Bay punk roots and turned it into arena-filling, Grammy-winning anthems: Green Day. Now, I know what you might be thinking—Green Day, emo? Well, not exactly. But their influence runs deep through the 2000s scene that fueled emo, pop-punk, and alternative culture. From basement shows at Gilman Street to American Idiot on Broadway, Green Day's journey is a wild ride, full of reinvention, controversy, and fan devotion. So today, we'll trace the band's history, their biggest career moments, some of the drama along the way, and the ways their fans have carried them from 1987 all the way to now. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today's episode is a full recap of My Chemical Romance's Long Live the Black Parade Tour on August 15 20, 2025 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I'll share what happened logistically with the venue and merch, the set and all the special moments, B stage setlist, and my overall experience of the show.  If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today we're diving into the return of The Black Parade from My Chemical Romance with the Long Live 2025 tour. And we are joined by Frannie, Franniestein, the Emo Fridge Girl - icon in the MCR fanbase. Frannie shares her own history as an MCR fan, some of the lore behind the Black Parade and now Long Live, parts of the tour so far and theories around their meanings, and so much more!  Lisa's video breaking down the wheat and possible tribute to Bob: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6Sp3VhW/ Trevor's video breaking down the clown: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6SsRVs8/ Resources from Frannie, including lore breakdowns, fan projects, Black Parade booklet scans, and the in-progress PowerPoint: https://linktr.ee/Franniestein Connect with Frannie on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@franniestein?_t=ZT-8yTARx0TAZT&_r=1 If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today we're unpacking one of the most beloved, theatrical, and mythologized bands of the emo movement—My Chemical Romance. From apocalyptic concept albums and comic book aesthetics to a fandom that turned heartbreak into art, MCR wasn't just a band—they were a lifeline. Today, we're telling their full story, album by album, era by era… with fan theories, lore, and the return of The Black Parade in 2025. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today's episode is a full recap of Dashboard Confessional opening for Goo Goo Dolls on their Summer Anthem Tour on July 20, 2025 at Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville, TN. I'll share my experience with the venue, the set compared to past sets I've seen from them, and the overall vibe of the crowd.  If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today we're kicking off a high-energy deep dive into pop punk, the genre that lived between rebellion and radio, mosh pits and mall tours. We're tracing how pop punk evolved from underground punk scenes to MTV stardom, where it crossed into emo, and how it's still thriving today in a new generation of artists. And we'll explore the headlines, interviews, and cultural moments that defined each wave — because pop punk wasn't just a sound. It was a statement. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today, we're flipping the script and turning the spotlight on the women of emo. Yes—women have always been part of emo. Not just as fans, not just in the crowd or running your favorite Tumblr page, but as vocalists, instrumentalists, trendsetters, and truth-tellers in a genre that hasn't always made space for them. Today we're talking about the frontwomen, the fighters, and the fans who shaped the scene—and how their presence continues to challenge the male-dominated emo and pop punk legacy. Enjoy our Women of Emo Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6zrpuNYOOCd5AvuF0AGjzd?si=ffe7557f961b4ab8 If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today…we're going all the way to Ohio. That's right—we're talking about the band that taught us how to scream for the last time: Hawthorne Heights. Whether you were scream-singing Ohio Is for Lovers in your bedroom or clutching your chest during Niki FM, chances are this band holds a very real place in your emo heart. So grab your studded belt and Sidekick phone, because we're going full throttle into the history, heartbreak, and emo legacy of Hawthorne Heights. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today's episode is a full recap of the mysterious tour from Brand New on June 15, 2025 at Synovus Bank Amphitheater in Atlanta, Georgia. I'll share my experience with the venue, what happened during the set, and my overall opinions on the comeback of Brand New and Jesse Lacey.  If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today's episode is a full recap of the MFEO Tour from Jack's Mannequin celebrating 20 years since the start of their music on June 7, 2025 at Pier 17 in New York City. I'll share my experience with the venue, what happened during the sets, and how the experience compared overall to past experiences with Andrew McMahon  If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today's episode is a full recap of the I Can't Hear You Tour from Pierce the Veil, featuring Sleeping with Sirens on June 4, 2025 at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville TN. I'll share my experience with the venue, what happened during the sets, and how the experience compared overall to past experiences with PTV.  If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo  

Today we're talking about a band that gave us anthems to scream in our bedrooms, cry in our cars, and belt out in mosh pits: Sleeping With Sirens. Whether you fell in love with Kellin Quinn's soaring vocals, blasted If You Can't Hang in your earbuds during a breakup, or found yourself somewhere between post-hardcore and pop punk, this band carved out a space that was raw, emotional, and undeniably catchy.   If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today's episode is a tribute to someone who helped build the very stages emo and pop punk bands stood on — a man whose work behind the scenes helped launch the careers of some of your favorite artists. We're talking about music agent and industry powerhouse: Dave Shapiro. If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email [email protected] or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo