On a fierce Saturday night, the iconic midwest emo band, Hawthorne Heights, made a momentous return to The Rave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with support from Creeper and LetLive. to celebrate 20 years of their album If Only You Were Lonely!
Formed in Dayton, Ohio, the rock group was born out of angst, emo and post-hardcore inspirations. While the lead singer, JT Woodruff, can certainly hold down a melody and conveys expert storytelling, the rest of the crew keeps the energy high throughout countless tours and performances spanning across two decades. Mark McMillon (guitar, backing vocals), and Matt Ridenour (bass, backing vocals) are enticing and masterful performers as well, with their tenure and expertise on the stage blooming with each and every song.
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at The Rave — the supposed haunted venue filled with rich history and thousands of performances in the past — Hawthorne Heights brought a crowd full of the emo kids back for a hint of what it felt like to be young again. With direct support from two rising acts, Creeper and LetLive., who were both stellar and extremely high energy, the night was off with a bang from the start.
LetLive. stood out to me in many ways, outside of Jason Butler’s non-stop energy and over the top personality. He made it known half-way through his set time that he has family who lives in and are from Milwaukee. Including his mother, who he dedicated their song “Muther” to. Overall, their sound is heavy with hints of inspiration and righteousness. Similar energy to Turnstile, who believes in alternative communities and mosh pits; for one and for all.
After a quick set change and lots of moving parts, I watched from the sidelines as crew and stage managers wiped the floor of the set, and leftover water bottles, from LetLive. I always find it intriguing to monitor the transition between drastically different bands.
Suddenly, the lights across the venue dimmed and four LED screens lit up the stage. Somewhat reminiscent of The Twilight Zone, spooky clocks, dial-up phones and other terrific, supernatural imagery began counting down the start of the show.
As the final seconds disappeared, the band stormed the stage and launched directly into “This is Who We Are,” immediately igniting the crowd and bringing back those sweet memories. Like a celebration of our younger selves, playing If Only You Were Lonely in full was an incredible experience. The crowd’s energy definitely peaked at multiple points throughout the night, in combination with the incredible light show and on-screen visuals of “Where Can I Stab Myself in the Ears,” where a wave of crowd surfers made their way over the barricades. I watched as the band on stage was energized by this and genuinely responded with their performance.
Later in the set, songs like “Bring You Back” and “Dandelions” brought together the newest fans and the fans who had been here since day one; I even saw a young child on the barricade with their family. It was interesting to observe how Hawthorne Height’s discography bridges the gap between ages and communities, there is truly a song for everyone. The biggest takeaway I felt from this night was the band taking a moment to dedicate “Niki FM” to Woodruff’s wife, Niki, making a surprise appearance on the setlist. The entire crowd lit up, holding up their phone flashlights over their heads for a slower, more emotional song.
Of course, no Hawthorne Heights show would feel complete without their final song “Ohio Is for Lovers,” a timeless hit with incredible fan engagement transformed the venue into chaos. At the end of the evening, the entire crowd was seen filtering out with smiles on their faces after revisiting an album that defined them for 20 years.
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