Show Review – Emo Nite, 11/12/22, Bogart’s, Cincinnati, OH

Written by Steven Paugh
Photos by Steven Paugh

In the world of touring parties, one that definitely stands out is Emo Nite. Where many tend to focus on EDM music, Emo Nite taps into the alternative, pop-punk, and metalcore scenes. Turning venues into a sort of “best of When We Were Young” listening party.

With the arrival of a cold winter on November 12th, the line for Emo Nite stretched down Short Vine from Bogarts. For a night based on songs by miserable people, it was fitting for many of the attendants to start their night waiting in the first cold flurries of the season. Those in skirts and fishnets certainly had issues with the half-hour wait in line even after the doors opened. Lucky for them though, the bar had plenty of themed mix drinks to warm their spirits. Say what you will, but Poise and Rationality makes for a great drink name regardless of origin.

What I think made this show particularly unique was its reliability on the songs as they are. No dj to remix them or anything. Just two very enthusiastic hosts keeping the hype going throughout the night as the playlist did its part. The playlist itself had an interesting vibe as not every song on it would be classified as “emo”. While I’m sure there isn’t a single person alive who doesn’t love Fireflies by Owl City, it was jarring to hear right after I Don’t Want to Fall in Love by Good Charlotte and Dance Dance by Fall Out Boy. Not to say the playlist wasn’t living up to the night however. Many of the songs gave an adrenaline-needle-straight-to-the-heart type of jolt in everyone’s nostalgia. Covering many eras of “emo” and letting everyone’s inner middle school years have their time to shine.

I will say this, the event has its moments of feeling as if it was catering to the most basic of taste there. However, I wouldn’t necessarily say it was for “posers”. For one, not only did they play some great modern songs like Counting Worms by Knocked Loose. But some good deep cuts like Wow I Can Get Sexual Too by Say Anything, or MakeDamnSure by Taking Back Sunday. Halfway through the night, they even had a surprise appearance by Craig Owens, the singer of Chiodos. The artist stayed the rest of the show to be a guest host, even after being in a car crash that very afternoon getting to the show. And of course he sang one of his own songs, Baby You Wouldn’t Last a Minute on the Creek. For those that are fans of the band, this had to have been a huge surprise. And for me it definitely gave this event some credibility.

Another element that I loved was it’s inclusion of audience members on stage. Not only does this give each show its own unique element, but it’s just too fun not to mention. For a show that’s all about letting the audience enjoy a playlist of their favorite music, why not let them be a part of it fully? People got to go up and dance, sing, scream, or just get to be in the spotlight for the sake of enjoying themselves in a safe environment. With so much happening from the back wall of the stage to the bar at the venue entrance, it gave a lot more energy to the show as a whole. Ending up with a feeling of a total takeover of Bogarts by the audience.

I say “emo” with the quotations because let’s be honest, what even is “emo” at this point? So many sub genres of style, music, and attitude have been roped in over the years it’s impossible to narrow it down. Just a quick glance at the audience could tell you that. Many were draped in their finest black and white striped shirts and bondage pants, but plenty were just there in casual clothing too. To say “it’s not a phase” is cliche at this point, however I think for some it really was, and that’s okay. Not everyone is going to wear guyliner their whole life, but Emo Nite definitely tapped into that era of everyone in attendances life. To see someones sudden euphoric madness over the intro of a song they probably hadn’t heard since Warped Tour 2011 was honestly heartwarming. Many of these people probably hadn’t felt this type of representation in a very mainstream event. So to get to mosh, cry, or scream to something that means so much to them with those who understand had to have felt cathartic.

“Well that’s not emo!” Who’s to say? While I’ll admit that I think calling it Emo Nite is a little pandering, I can’t say it isn’t on point either. Shake It by Metro Station and Fireflies by Owl City may not be classified as whatever “emo” means to you, but I doubt there was a single person there not jamming to those songs in their youth. So while I think it could use a better name, the event new it’s audience and gave them their moneys worth if not more. Especially being a four hour event.