Thanks for the Memories: A Night with the Emo Orchestra
The Tobin Center had a different energy than usual that night. Some people were there for a nice date night. Some came dressed in full goth theater night vibes, and others in black band tees and skinny jeans. Emo Orchestra is the perfect blend of classical music and the heavy, distortion-laden melodies we all know and love from bands like Fallout Boy, New Found Glory, My Chemical Romance, System of a Down, and of course, headlining band Escape the Fate. The crowd joined in with sing-along-style projector screens behind the musicians that included thought-provoking artwork some might call “Emo AF”. The entire night felt classy, with an air of nostalgic rebellion.
After the show I got to join some of the band for drinks at The Moon’s Daughters, followed by a late night dinner. Yard House was one of the few restaurants with an open kitchen within walking distance after the show wrapped. I sat at a table eating chicken strips and parmesan truffle fries with Craig, Matty, and TJ from Escape the Fate, as well as K Enagonio, the tour’s content creator, and a few of their friends from San Antonio. We sat and reminisced about Emo bands from the early 2000s while the band brainstormed ideas for future Emo Orchestra set lists.
As I listened to their conversation, I was flooded with memories from middle and high school; all of the amazing emotions I experienced for the first time through music. I had a flashback to standing in a circle before school with my friends in their Doc Martens and black eye liner, sharing headphones connected to a portable discman with one another to catch up on all the newest music. I remembered my first feelings of freedom skateboarding through the suburbs with my misfit friends, and the bands that fueled those moments which shaped my life in so many ways.
Lead vocalist Craig Mabbit shared some of his thoughts about the tour with me over dinner. “It’s amazing to play with a full orchestra… even to hear our own songs with a full orchestra is really cool, " he went on, “We clicked really quickly. The camaraderie is great.” The band collectively have an extensive resume in the Emo scene. Escape the Fate has been together for over 20 years. Craig started in a band called Bless the Fall. TJ Bell began his career in Motionless in White; Matti Hoffman with Dead Girls Academy and several others. The list goes on, but needless to say, they’ve absolutely perfected the emo hair swoop. Mabbit proudly stated, “You actually get to see one of your favorite bands perform these songs in a setting that’s just easy to enjoy.” The band clearly seemed touched to be part of something that not only connects people to their past in such a new and positive way, but also to provide an opportunity for fans to connect and share something they love with the people they love.
During our dinner, K Enagonio recalled an experience while taking photos during the show: K spotted a daughter reluctant to dance with her father, and didn’t hesitate to approach the daughter and remind her that she won’t always have the opportunity to dance with her dad, so she should make the best of the opportunity. After processing this, the daughter got up and danced with her dad the rest of the night. It’s surely a memory both of them will hold dearly for the rest of their lives. Music brings people together. Music creates memories. Seize the moment and make a point to go make some memories with someone you love next time The Emo Orchestra makes its way to San Antonio.
Editor & Photographer: Zach Jewell
