KRT CampusHas life got you down? Has your significant other recently broken your heart? Can only a song with lyrics worthy of being your away message make you a well-adjusted college student again? Well cheer up, emo kid, because outside of Wash. U., April welcomes some of the biggest bands you should have stopped listening to in high school. Get ready for crowd surfing and mosh pits, facial piercings and eyeliner and, best of all, a crowd full of teenage angst-ridden high school kids who aren’t afraid to cry on your shoulder. Here’s your guide to April’s best emo, screamo and pop-punk concerts.
On April 7, the Sub City Take Action! Tour is coming to Mississippi Nights, and Matchbook Romance, best known for their singles “Promise” and “My Eyes Burn,” are headlining the show. On Valentine’s Day of this year, they released “Voices,” which Corey Apar of “All Music Guide” calls “a moody, intense, dramatic and orchestrated second full-length tour de force.” In promotion of the new album, you can expect Matchbook Romance to feature much of “Voices,” particularly their latest single “Monsters,” as well as plenty of crowd favorites from “Stories & Alibis.” Second on the bill is Early November, best known for their singles “For All of This” and “Something That Produces Results.” With a new triple-disc album slated for release in July, Early November’s fans can look forward to previewing some of the group’s new material in its set.
Saves the Day comes to Pop’s on April 12, also promoting their new album, “Sound the Alarm,” which is set to be released the day before the show. After achieving fame with their 1999 sophomore release “Through Being Cool,” they released “Stay What You Are,” which MacKenzie Wilson of “All Music Guide” says “mixes emocore delight with post-grunge snarl.” Saves the Day then followed that up with 2003’s “In Reverie.” After three years without a new release, Saves the Day’s fans will finally be able to pick up their latest offering on April 11 and hear it live along with fan favorites from their entire catalog the next day.
April 14 brings the synth-based pop-punk band Motion City Soundtrack with opener Straylight Run to Mississippi Nights. In 2003 Minneapolis’ Motion City Soundtrack gained a strong following in the indie community with their debut “I Am the Movie.” Since then Motion City Soundtrack has released a second album, “Commit This to Memory,” and has acquired a larger mainstream fan base, playing last year’s Van’s Warped Tour and this year’s Nintendo Fusion Tour (with headliners Fall Out Boy).
Sophomore Ben Spector was at the Nintento Fusion Tour and said that Motion City Soundtrack sound “perfect live, and the singer’s hair is tight.” Opener Straylight Run is best known for the hit single “Existentialism on Prom Night” and is a mellow, piano-based emo band that features harmonies between male and female vocalists.
Emo mainstay Alkaline Trio comes to The Pageant on April 26 to promote their latest Satanist-themed album, “Crimson.” Alkaline Trio is best known for hits such as “Fuck You Aurora” off of “Maybe I’ll Catch Fire” and “Stupid Kid” off of the follow-up “From Here to Infirmary,” but the group’s latest album has been very well received.
Sophomore John Godfrey has been a big fan of Alkaline Trio for years but has never seen them in concert before.
“I’m really excited for the Alkaline Trio show,” said Godfrey. “They’re a hardworking band that’s been around for a while, and their new record, ‘Crimson,’ is definitely their best effort yet. Plus, they’re from Chicago, which makes them that much cooler.”
Be prepared to hear material spanning Alkaline Trio’s entire career but songs from their new album, “Crimson,” in particular.
Other upcoming shows of the high school variety:
April 1: The Starting Line at Mississippi Nights
April 6: 30 Seconds to Mars at The Pageant
April 14: Taking Back Sunday at Pop’s