It’s been 20 years since If Only You Were Lonely hit the airwaves and suddenly hundreds of thousands of teens and adolescents didn’t feel so alone. At the peak of the Emo Movement, Hawthorne Heights solidified the community that many of us still hold close to our hearts.
At a sold-out Irving Plaza, celebrating the anniversary of one of the most monumental albums alongside them were English rock band Creeper and scene legends, Letlive.
For over two years, Creeper fans have been impatiently waiting for their return. And with energy high and adorned in goth attire, Creeper delivered, playing a tight half hour set full of newer songs off their 2023 release Sanguivore and its 2026 companion release Sanguivore II: Mistress of Death.
Letlive came out with a quickness. Composed of mostly POC members, frontman Jason Butler broadcasted the important reminder that black and brown voices have always been a part of Rock music – That there will always be space for minority and marginalized groups in this scene.
the cops.”
Finally, the lights go low, familiar riffs reverberate through the air and suddenly, we’re all teenagers again remembering what it felt like to be truly heard.
In proper anniversary fashion, Hawthorne Heights played the entirety of If Only You Were Lonely and shared a little history about one of the most iconic records ever made. Newly married to the Nikki FM, instead of a honeymoon, JT and the guys headed to New Jersey to record the album. Riddled with guilt and feeling exceptionally lonely, JT wrote a ballad for his new bride – the perfect ending for the record – “December.”
The band closed out the show with “Nikki FM”, their latest single “Like A Cardinal” and “Ohio is for Lovers”. Before departing for the night and releasing all the elder emos back into the cruel world, JT reminded us that while social media may no longer be home to the community we had built up on MySpace. We had this – all of us – as our community.
The emo movement sponsored by MySpace is never finished. It’s still here and Hawthorne Heights are still leading the way.
See more moments from the set in the photo gallery below!
Written & Photographed by: Photographer Sam Odice for Lyrical Muse
Edited by: Malvika Padin
Share your thoughts with us on X and Instagram, and visit Lyrical Muse for music and pop culture updates.
Leave a Reply