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 sha...

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 schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com 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 schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagr...

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...

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 y...

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,...

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...

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 for...

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...

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 f...

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...

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? The...

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—...

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 cult...

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 lo...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 lor...

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...

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...