Celebrating 10 Years of Emo Nite: How This Cultural Phenomenon Revived The Scene

Three cheers for ten years! Los Angeles-based Emo Nite LA is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a two-day music festival extravaganza. Founders T.J. Patrecca and Morgan Freed have spent the past decade bringing their parties worldwide. Their idea came about during a blurry period for the scene, one where Warped Tour was closing out its long run as the scene's safe space. The seed they planted a decade ago culminated into something grander than anything they had in mind, creating a movement for nightlife at large over time. Niche parties have generally risen in demand–like those focusing on One Direction's and Taylor Swift's catalogs, but only after promoters recognized the Emo Nite effect. Still, it seems that Emo Nite LA has been the only one to reach previously unseen groups of fans."To me, Emo Nite is a safe space, a community," says veteran fan Haylie Calvert. "At Emo Nite, you can leave your troubles at the door– even just for a few hours. You sing, dance, and mosh with new and old friends alike; it's easy to forget any troubles outside of that while you're there."Fans like Haylie have been dedicated to Emo Nite's parties since their conception. They have seen them transition between venues, from the quaint hallowed halls of the Echoplex to the grandiose nightclub, the Avalon. Amazing things happen when people are granted room to be their truest selves, free of inhibitions or reservations. Despite serving a seemingly tight demographic, Emo Nite opens doors for many people (myself included!). These days, Haylie is best known for her work in the music industry, captaining the merch booth for tours and festivals."I've gotten some awesome work opportunities from going to Emo Nite," continues Calvert. "I got to be in some music videos while going to awesome events, like crowd surfing to From First To Last and Hawthorne Heights. I've blown up so many balloons. I've cried until I laughed and laughed until I cried. I even learned to like Pabst Blue Ribbon."General sentiments tend to be shared between attendees, especially those who have frequented Emo Nite LA since its humble beginnings. "Third spaces" are coveted; there are few places to go after you clock out of work, especially to build your desired community. Yet, community is a necessity for people, as we are creatures who thrive in flocks of like-minded comfort. Consequently, the Emo Nite LA parties seemingly find those who need it most at the right time."I found this shelter of an event filled with the most amazing people during a very dark part of my life," says long-term attendee Herman. "Emo Nite was one of the last 'hurrahs' I wanted to have. I took myself out of my comfort zone and went to the Echoplex alone. I didn't know that the dark part was not only about to end but be lit like a thousand suns."Historically, people who enjoy the music that graces Emo Nite's playlist have spent an extensive amount of time feeling socially outcasted. This subgenre was never catered to outside of Hot Topic storefronts or Warped Tour parking lots. The fashion, culture, and music of the "emo" realm are vastly misunderstood and often ridiculed by people who don't get or need it.Lyrically, the music is emotionally profound; vulnerable topics are explored throughout, generating a bit of a stigma surrounding the subgenre. However, the success of Emo Nite is a testament to the number of people who resonate with the subgenre on a deep level, allowing them to connect with others. Many never realized the number of people who cared deeply about the music that "saved" them until Emo Nite started touring its parties."The next time I attended Emo Nite, I was a part of the crew," recalls Herman. "The friends I made since that first night I attended have been lifelong. Emo Nite has truly made me the happiest I've ever been."Herman certainly did become part of the crew, eventually collaborating with the event extremely closely. As a result, he could attend more frequently; support is a two-way street for Emo Nite LA, with its founders and staff recognizing people like Herman often, inviting them in on a deeper level. He's not the only one who got to feel like a part of the team, either.Other long-term fans have taken up residence at their local Emo Nites. The parties tour globally but have more regular stops in major US cities. Jamie R. helps out at her local Emo Nite (Minneapolis) frequently. "Growing up, the phrase, 'it's just a phase' had such negative connotations. It was as if our interests were childish and naive," she explains. "But many of the songs we grew up with stuck with us, and I think that's what made this community more empathetic, open-minded, and ready to hold space in those moments when we are singing together in a sweaty room at the top of our lungs."The hometown event in LA features regular monthly attendees who range from local Angelinos to transplants to "just visitors," allowing people to initiate or maintain friendships."It's kind of funny how the safest place to be, in my eyes, is the Emo Nite mosh pit," laughs attendee Elizabeth Marquez. "I remember struggling to find a place to hang out that was open late, fun, and welcoming when I first moved back to LA after college. Making new friends as an adult can be difficult– but it wasn't at Emo Nite."Many post-graduates have lamented over similar struggles generating true adult friendships. It's especially difficult for those of us who adorn colorful hairstyles and thick black liquid eyeliner. The world has become marginally more forgiving for alternative-presenting people, but it can still feel lonely outside of this safe haven."As soon as you enter, you’re automatically surrounded by hundreds of other people who are interested in the same subcultures you are," continues Marquez. "It’s an indescribable feeling: finally being able to bond over the shared experience of growing up outcasts, for liking the music that brought us comfort when the rest of the world just didn’t understand it, and finally having a space to celebrate everything that made us different in our angsty teenage years.""Emo Nite is a place of acceptance, free of judgment," agrees fan Alex Marie.Of course, the high-stakes adrenaline of catching your favorite surprise guest, like Cobra Starship or 3OH!3, could be hailed as the grand prize of collecting Emo Nite LA frequent flyer miles. However, the real treat is the thrill of unabashed self-expression. The event is rather meta; each month offers a different theme, giving grownups a chance to play dress up, adding to the healthy doses of escapism these parties are known for. Some have even found hidden talents through this facet of Emo Nite, discovering creative passions worth pursuing."Emo Nite to me is like your fantasy greatest hits concert mixed with the DJ everyone loves in a sickening club attended by your MySpace friends list on a fashion runway," describes fashion designer Jasmine Vaughn Perrett. "I can't think of a museum, canvas, or film strip that could capture the self-expression I see and feel when I go to Emo Nite. It's the place where I feel the most like myself like I'm giving the greatest honor to my inner 14-year-old, and it is the biggest direct inspiration for my art. I am so lucky to exist at the same time as it." Perrett is known best for her takes on the monthly themes, whether they are directly acknowledged or tips she got from a more ambiguous event flyer (sometimes, the theme is Emo Nite). Regardless, Perrett's thirst for creative self-expression is quenched by a monthly prompt she wouldn't have had without these themes. Moreover, her creative energy is fueled by support from the event, who have offered collaboration and friendship, putting her artwork in the spotlight where it belongs.So, while the big-name stars at low ticket prices are a major draw, Emo Nite is a place that fosters connection and creativity. Patrecca and Freed, along with their team, have curated a space that pours back into the arts. Venues are closing down after decades of hosting life-changing performances and events. However, places like Emo Nite stand as a beacon of hope; people haven't forgotten about the arts' impact on individuals and groups, but rather, it takes the right village to raise a decades' worth of a community."God save Emo Nite, and all the emos waiting to get inside," says Perrett.Keep up with Emo Nite and get your tickets for this weekend's events here.