_{Review by Kayla Hamilton (@kaylazomboid)}

Hawthorne Heights w/Armor For Sleep and Tapestry
at The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide, South Australia

The elder emo term gets thrown around a lot these days, often in reference to bands like My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Fall Out Boy etc. but those who truly were around in the mid-00’s are aware of the absolute deathgrip Hawthorne Heights had on us. Even in Adelaide, people were buying ‘Ohio Is For Lovers’ t-shirts in Midwest Trader without knowing much else about the place.

Those same kids, twenty years on, some with their own children in tow or younger siblings, came down to The Gov on Friday to belt out the tunes that were the soundtrack to many of our angsty teen years. Coming together to celebrate not only the iconic album If Only You Were Lonely but also to welcome emo icons Armor For Sleep on their first ever Australian tour. 

But before, it was time to celebrate another brilliant but more local act. Opening the show on this run was Melbourne band Tapestry. Whoever booked this tour did their research because the choice in opener was absolutely perfect. While Tapestry got their start a little while ago, the band may have been a relatively new name for some of those in the crowd. In typical Adelaide fashion, the crowd tended to hang back a little near the bar but in a true sign of acceptance, as the set progressed, the punters moved closer and closer in.

Tapestry was absolutely stunning. Weaving together a sonic palette of raw emotion, haunting melodies and contrasting rhythms, the effortlessly went from heavy to a type of softness that only this style of music truly captures. Over the last year, the melodic hardcore scene in Australia has continued to surprise me. I feel like I’m constantly being shown some beautiful gems that I’ve been missing and Tapestry is another one I’m adding to my list. Hearing their latest single ‘Bedsheets’ live truly was a treat and it has me firmly focused on what the band will do next.

Between sets turned into a little emo karaoke, especially when the iconic ‘The Taste Of Ink’ played over the speakers. The Armor For Sleep members and team were giggling to themselves as the punters joined in on a sing-a-long and that set the tone wonderfully for the New Jersey act. Still shocked this was the band’s first tour down under, I was among a wonderful audience who were ready to welcome them with open arms. Opening straight away with ‘Stay On The Ground’, the nostalgia was immediate. It was one of those moments where you really lean back and just pinch yourself. What To Do When You Are Dead was in my regular rotation back in 2005-6, so to finally hear these songs live was nothing short of a dream. 

More importantly, Armor For Sleep absolutely nailed every single moment. Flowing between their older songs and tracks from their current two albums, it proved something I’ve always believed; this band is one of the more underrated and underappreciated bands in the genre. I am not afraid to admit as they closed out their set with ‘Truth About Heaven’ and the ever iconic ‘Car Underwater’, I did shed a tear. Let’s hope this is not the only time we see this amazing band on our shores, because my perhaps controversial opinion is that while we are being nostalgic about these older releases, many of the classic bands we loved from that era are hitting some of the best strides in terms of live performances and quality of their current material. Armor For Sleep are one of the best examples of this, but also our headliners- Hawthorne Heights.

Which they proved effortlessly. While I am possibly more familiar with Armor For Sleep’s material across the years, looking out at the Adelaide audience, there was no denying the popularity of Hawthorne Heights. The Ohio had everybody singing their hearts out right from the jump, playing the entirety of If Only You Were Only from start to finish. We have had an increase in anniversary tours, and every band does it a little differently, but I am a big fan when bands just run through the album from start to finish. Not only was the band completely dialed in, there was such a beautiful energy throughout the audience during their set. Seeing small children, teens, young adults and those of us 35+ (possibly older) all enjoying singing along was astounding- evidence that this music we loved as young kids trying to find our way has staying power.

Another thing that stood out during the set was just how thankful the band seemed. Lead vocalist JT Woodruff is ridiculously charming in his own relatable way, praising the Adelaide audience and showing respect to the venue. While it may seem like a simple gesture, it really does stand out in the hearts of fans because in a city that can often be left off or isn’t as known as the East Coast majors, a display of respect that shows you remember us leaves a strong impression. An impression that turns to affection, cementing a following that will turn out time and time again.

Once the album was done, JT explained they don’t walk off and do encores. Instead, they said it was now their time to be free with what they played and they kicked off this section with an emotional performance of ‘Bring You Back’. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room. Finishing the set, they played their latest single ‘Like A Cardinal’, before linking it with the ever famous emo anthem, ‘Ohio Is For Lovers’. 

All in all, the show was the perfect representation of what it was like to grow up in that era of music. It brought back so many memories and while these bands are still making great music, it is always such a treat to celebrate the soundtracks of our formative years. In a time of great turmoil, despite the angsty sadness and overwhelming feelings that come with being a teen/young adult that made us relate to this music, it really was a reminder of a time where our problems felt a little simpler. So coming together to sing, cry and reminisce was a much needed catharsis.

Perhaps that is why emo is well and truly back. 

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