The Emo Social Club Podcast

"I gotta listen to a little bit of Zen... I need to balance it. I'm like, cry a little bit. I don't know."Live from the middle of the desert, we're hanging out with Taylor Acorn right after her massive set at When We Were Young Festival 2025! Taylor was shocked to see how many people chose her set over scene legends Mayday Parade, who were playing at the same time. We even broke the news to her that she has her own billboard out on the Las Vegas strip.Instead of a high-energy pump-up playlist, Taylor walks us through her pre-show ritual, which involves getting Zen and finding balance by listening to Counting Crows—a stark contrast to the energy drink she's usually drinking at the same time. She opens up about what makes her music so emo, citing her longtime struggles with mental health and her passion for writing about her experiences to help others feel less alone. It's this authenticity that resonates with so many fans. We also get the details on her brand new record, which is available now!Key Topics & Timestamps:
[00:07] Playing When We Were Young & Competing with Mayday Parade
[00:39] The Surprise Billboard on the Vegas Strip
[01:04] Pre-Show Rituals: Getting Zen with Counting Crows
[03:45] Her Upcoming New Record & Where to Find It Guest/Band Links:Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1A0WloDoRE88uUwo3wensY]
Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/tayloracornmusic/]
Official Website: [https://www.tayloracorn.com/] Episode Highlights:"Mayday Parade was playing at the same time. So I was like, honestly, I would be at their set too.""Before I play a show, I listen to Counting Crows... it kind of just like, relaxes me in a way.""I've struggled with my mental health for many, many years. And so it's something that I write about a lot and something that I know very well." JOIN THE CLUB! Youtube: https://emosocial.club/youtube Instagram: https://emosocial.club/instagram TikTok: https://emosocial.club/tiktok Twitch: https://emosocialclub.tv Discord: https://emosocial.club/discord Facebook: https://emosocial.club/facebook Twitter: https://emosocial.club/twitter Support the Show:

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify
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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

"What makes Her Leather Jacket so emo?"We caught up with Her Leather Jacket at When We Were Young Festival 2025 to talk about their incredible journey, from honing their sound to collaborating with legends of the scene. The band discusses how mentorship from Aaron Gillespie of Underoath completely opened the door for them to be more vulnerable in their lyrics and songwriting. This collaboration was crucial in developing their sound and led to their latest single, "Death Train".The band shares the story behind the track, which features an iconic appearance from Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens. It was actually Aaron Gillespie's idea to bring Kellin onto the song, and they were ecstatic when he loved it and agreed to be a part of it. Hearing the final mix with Kellin's unmistakable voice was an "unbelievable" moment for the band. They also touch on the bands they were most excited to see at the fest, including The Maine and Don Broco, and answer the ultimate question: what's the most emo song they're listening to right now?Key Topics & Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction at When We Were Young Fest 2025
[00:21] Bands they're excited to see at the festival
[00:42] The most emo songs they're listening to right now
[01:25] What makes Her Leather Jacket's music so emo?
[01:43] The influence of mentor Aaron Gillespie on their songwriting
[02:15] The story behind their single "Death Train" ft. Kellin Quinn
[02:49] How Kellin Quinn got involved with the track
[03:46] Kellin Quinn's impact on up-and-coming bandsEpisode Highlights:
"He kind of opened the door to kind of let us be vulnerable and kind of really mentor songwriting."
"It was his idea. He goes, why don't we get Kellin on it? I said, absolutely."
"To have a mentor who really believes in us too and kind of is willing to help guide and shape and kind of reach out to his people... we're just super stoked." JOIN THE CLUB! Youtube: https://emosocial.club/youtube Instagram: https://emosocial.club/instagram TikTok: https://emosocial.club/tiktok Twitch: https://emosocialclub.tv Discord: https://emosocial.club/discord Facebook: https://emosocial.club/facebook Twitter: https://emosocial.club/twitter Support the Show:

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify
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• Support us and watch exclusive episodes: https://emosocialclub.tv

It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

"It's not a venue called the Loading dock. It's literally the loading dock."Live from When We Were Young Festival, we're hanging out with Rob Damiani, frontman of the incredible Don Broco. Rob takes us back to one of the most memorable shows of their career at The Loading Dock in Salt Lake City—a venue that is, quite literally, a loading dock. We get into the band's surprisingly emo history, from their early promo photos with the classic emo fringe to their first band name, "Summer Fall," which, as a British band, didn't quite make sense. Rob also discusses the new music they've been releasing, confirming that a brand new record is finished and set for an early 2026 release. We compare the vibrant energy of the current US alternative scene to the struggles facing small venues back in the UK, and how the Myspace era of DIY tours shaped the band they are today. This conversation connects the past and present of pop punk on both sides of the Atlantic.Key Topics & Timestamps:
[00:00:03] The Story of The Loading Dock in Salt Lake City
[00:01:16] Winning $200 in a tour dice game
[00:02:02] The Most Emo Song Rob is Listening To Right Now
[00:05:46] New Music and the Upcoming Record
[00:06:37] Comparing the UK and US Music ScenesGuest/Band Links:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0_EgNcVRz2z4iERNceAQcl
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donbroco
Official Website: https://www.donbroco.com/
Tour Dates: https://www.donbroco.com/tourEpisode Highlights:
"We had probably one of the most funnest shows we've ever played... in our career there, you know, it's, you know, that big and everyone is just on top of each other."
"The kings of f***ing emo. Right now are."
"We call ourselves. Summer. Fall... and fall is autumn in the UK, so that doesn't even make sense." JOIN THE CLUB! Youtube: https://emosocial.club/youtube Instagram: https://emosocial.club/instagram TikTok: https://emosocial.club/tiktok Twitch: https://emosocialclub.tv Discord: https://emosocial.club/discord Facebook: https://emosocial.club/facebook Twitter: https://emosocial.club/twitter Support the Show:

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify
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• Support us and watch exclusive episodes: https://emosocialclub.tv

It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

"I'd say Tom's broken heart is what makes this emo repeatedly, d**n."Live from When We Were Young Fest, we catch up with our friends from Chicago, Plain White T's! As their landmark album All That We Needed celebrates its 20th anniversary, the band reflects on their definition of "emo"—pop punk songs written about girls —and how that shaped their sound. We get the details on their upcoming anniversary tour with We The Kings and a special front-to-back album show in San Francisco this December. The band also shares the full story of how a simple social media comment led to them performing their iconic songs with the Jonas Brothers live on stage in Tinley Park and Dallas.Key Topics & Timestamps:
[00:09] The band's current most-listened-to emo songs (Taking Back Sunday, Yellowcard)
[01:14] What makes Plain White T's an emo band?
[01:50] Tom's repeated heartbreak as the source of their sound
[02:14] Celebrating 20 years of All That We Needed
[02:22] Upcoming tour with We The Kings & the special anniversary show
[03:31] The story behind performing with the Jonas BrothersGuest/Band Links:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1xEkVgKFPaageHeepEKl2E
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plainwhitets
Official Website: https://www.plainwhitets.com/
Tour Dates: https://www.plainwhitets.com/tourEpisode Highlights:
"When I was a kid, I defined emo as... pop punk songs written about girls... In that case, we are very emo."
"I'd say Tom's broken heart is what makes this emo repeatedly."
"We're literally playing All That We Needed front to back... Which is pretty sick." JOIN THE CLUB! Youtube: https://emosocial.club/youtube Instagram: https://emosocial.club/instagram TikTok: https://emosocial.club/tiktok Twitch: https://emosocialclub.tv Discord: https://emosocial.club/discord Facebook: https://emosocial.club/facebook Twitter: https://emosocial.club/twitter Support the Show:

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify
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• Support us and watch exclusive episodes: https://emosocialclub.tv

It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

"We're still in my high school band, technically." After 37 years together, The Bouncing Souls prove that punk rock longevity is about more than just the music—it's about the chemistry.In this episode recorded at Riot Fest 2025, we catch up with Greg from The Bouncing Souls to discuss their incredible journey from New Jersey punk kids to scene veterans. Fresh off the release of their new single "Power," Greg shares the songwriting process behind the track and its message about recognizing personal power in chaotic times.We dive deep into what it takes to maintain a band for nearly four decades, the importance of supporting each other through life's challenges, and how The Bouncing Souls found themselves right in the pocket of the first wave emo movement alongside bands like Lifetime. Greg reflects on the evolution of the term "emo," the band's relationship to emotion in rock and roll, and what keeps them excited to perform night after night.Key Topics & Timestamps:

• [00:00] Introduction with Greg from The Bouncing Souls
• [00:20] Most emo song right now: new single "Power"
• [00:50] The songwriting process behind "Power" and its message about personal energy
• [02:09] 37 years as a band and maintaining chemistry through every phase of life
• [03:30] The magic of still enjoying each other after decades together
• [04:50] What makes The Bouncing Souls emo? Genre evolution and emotional authenticity
• [06:10] Growing up in the first wave alongside Lifetime and the New Jersey scene
• [06:42] Current tour with Jer and upcoming East Coast dates

Episode Highlights:

• "We mixed it up in the blender. Essentially the core of the song is about personal power, and everyone has that personal power. Sometimes it's hard to recognize the impact that your energy has in the world."
• "I'm so grateful now and we're having a great time. It's actually an amazing accomplishment that we still like each other honestly and enjoy being together. I think that's sort of part of the magic dust of the Bouncing Souls."
• "Good rock and roll and good music has emotion. In the 90s, when the word emo first came out, it was attributed to almost a completely different sounding style. Ten years later, everyone's like, 'they're emo now.' The definition of it is very loose. If you feel emotion, rock and roll music, whatever it is with guitars or without guitars, you feel emotion."

JOIN THE CLUB! Youtube: https://emosocial.club/youtube Instagram: https://emosocial.club/instagram TikTok: https://emosocial.club/tiktok Twitch: https://emosocialclub.tv Discord: https://emosocial.club/discord Facebook: https://emosocial.club/facebook Twitter: https://emosocial.club/twitter Support the Show:

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

"I have to psych myself up for it every f***ing show... what if somebody f**ing k*lls me? I have kids, you know what I mean?"At Riot Fest 2025, we caught up with Dan Campbell from The Wonder Years for an intimate conversation about the band's 20-year journey in the emo and pop-punk scene. Campbell reflects on the emotional weight behind their songwriting process, discussing how The Greatest Generation continues to resonate with fans years later. The conversation takes a powerful turn as Dan opens up about the very real consequences of the band's outspoken support for Palestine and trans rights - from death threats to lost opportunities - and why he continues to speak out despite the fear. We also explore the band's upcoming No Closer to Heaven remix, their fall arena tour with A Day to Remember and Yellowcard, and Campbell's touching tribute to late booking agent Dave Shapiro through Kevin Devine's cover of "Whole of the Moon."Key Topics & Timestamps:

• [00:00] Most emo song Dan's listening to - Kevin Devine's "Whole of the Moon" tribute
• [01:25] What makes The Wonder Years so emo - honesty and self-understanding through songwriting
• [01:56] The Greatest Generation's lasting impact and ranking Wonder Years albums
• [02:44] No Closer to Heaven remix announcement - game-changing for the album
• [03:36] Free Palestine and trans rights speech - the fear and consequences
• [05:41] Warped Tour main stage activism and community support
• [06:05] Building community and putting newer bands on
• [06:28] Fall arena tour with A Day to Remember and Yellowcard

Episode Highlights:

• "I just write... to try to better understand myself. So it means kind of like sounding the depths of what has me feeling down often."
• "When I say something, I get death threats sent to me... I understand why people would be afraid to do that. I'm afraid to do it."
• "At this point we are an older band in the world that we play in. And like my goal is to put people on."

JOIN THE CLUB! Youtube: https://emosocial.club/youtube Instagram: https://emosocial.club/instagram TikTok: https://emosocial.club/tiktok Twitch: https://emosocialclub.tv Discord: https://emosocial.club/discord Facebook: https://emosocial.club/facebook Twitter: https://emosocial.club/twitter Support the Show:

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify
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• Support us and watch exclusive episodes: https://emosocialclub.tv

It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

"Somebody had to f***ing do it" - The Paradox on being representation pioneers in the emo/pop-punk sceneAt Riot Fest 2025, we sat down with The Paradox, the rising pop-punk band that's redefining what representation looks like in alternative music. From their formation in July 2024 to landing a major tour with All Time Low, Mayday Parade, Four Year Strong, and The Cab, their journey has been nothing short of meteoric. The band gets real about being Black artists in a predominantly white genre, discussing how they're creating the representation they needed in high school. We explore their debut album NSFW, their influences ranging from Taking Back Sunday to Neck Deep, and why being "crybabies" who tell each other "I love you" is actually their greatest strength. This conversation bridges the classic emo era with today's scene, showing how The Paradox is both honoring the past and pushing the genre forward.Key Topics & Timestamps:

• [00:00] Introduction and the most emo songs they're listening to
• [01:06] What makes The Paradox so emo - embracing emotions as men
• [01:53] Discussion of their new album NSFW
• [02:38] Their first show at Concord and covering Taking Back Sunday
• [02:55] The band's meteoric rise since forming in 2024
• [03:15] Upcoming tour with All Time Low, Mayday Parade, and more
• [03:56] Small bands to watch: Custodians, Zealand, Super Sometimes, Barry Hendricks, Kawaii AF
• [04:40] Being Black artists in pop-punk and creating necessary representation
• [05:51] Where to find The Paradox and tour information

Episode Highlights:

• "We're very emotional men... One thing I love about us is we're very in touch with our emotions. We tell each other we love each other, give each other hugs... little kiss goodnight."
• "With that, I think being able to have representation or give representation for people is awesome. Like one of my favorite comments is when people are like, 'Yo, I needed you guys in high school.'"
• "There's not many of us, you know, and all we want to do is just create more of that."

JOIN THE CLUB! Youtube: https://emosocial.club/youtube Instagram: https://emosocial.club/instagram TikTok: https://emosocial.club/tiktok Twitch: https://emosocialclub.tv Discord: https://emosocial.club/discord Facebook: https://emosocial.club/facebook Twitter: https://emosocial.club/twitter Support the Show:

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• Support us and watch exclusive episodes: https://emosocialclub.tv

It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

At Riot Fest 2025, we caught up with Honey Revenge vocalist Devin Papadol for an electrifying conversation about the band's unique position in the modern emo landscape. From their pop-rock fusion that's transcending genre boundaries to becoming Kevin Lyman's favorite new band for Warped Tour 2025, Devin breaks down how Honey Revenge is creating music that makes you want to "cry but also shake ass." We explore the band's influences spanning from early 2000s pop icons like Kesha and Britney to metalcore roots, discuss their support for emerging artists like Love Rarely and Sweet Pill, and get exclusive details about their upcoming tour with Spiritbox. This conversation perfectly captures how the new wave of emo bands are destroying genre boundaries while staying true to the emotional core that defines the scene.Key Topics & Timestamps:

• [00:00] Introduction and catching up at Riot Fest 2025
• [00:22] Current emo listening habits: Love Rarely and Sweet Pill
• [01:13] What makes Honey Revenge's sound so emo
• [01:37] The untherapized brain vomit that became their debut
• [02:59] How their live show converts skeptics into believers
• [04:03] The death of genre boundaries in modern music
• [04:40] Kevin Lyman's obsession with Honey Revenge
• [05:48] Warped Tour 2025 and feeling like the teacher's pet
• [06:10] Upcoming Spiritbox tour announcement
• [06:20] Building community through Discord and Patreon

Episode Highlights:

• "We make music that is a remnant of many things... reminiscent of the pop music we grew up on and the metalcore we grew up on."
• "Everyone stuck up their f***ing nose to genre. And now we're back... genres aren't real. And that's been my whole thing from the beginning."
• "Warped Tour changed the trajectory of my life... and Kevin Lyman just f***s with us."

JOIN THE CLUB! Youtube: https://emosocial.club/youtube Instagram: https://emosocial.club/instagram TikTok: https://emosocial.club/tiktok Twitch: https://emosocialclub.tv Discord: https://emosocial.club/discord Facebook: https://emosocial.club/facebook Twitter: https://emosocial.club/twitter Support the Show:

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• Support us and watch exclusive episodes: https://emosocialclub.tv

It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

Footballhead finally plays Riot Fest after attending since 2014 - and the truth about butt rock comes out.Join Emo Social Club as Footballhead reveals why Breaking Benjamin equals The Beatles and shares wild Three Days Grace bar fight stories from their decade-long journey to Riot Fest's stage.

We're live from Riot Fest 2025 with Toronto's Loviet for one of the wildest conversations yet! We kick things off with a heated debate about the best and worst My Chemical Romance songs before diving into Canadian stereotypes and the story behind her rebellious new single, "Stiffy."Topics Discussed:

• The best (and worst) My Chemical Romance songs
• What really makes an artist emo?
• Debunking American myths about Canada (and moose)
• Musical influences from Pale Waves to The Beatles
• The rebellious energy behind her new single, "Stiffy"