I’ve never felt more like the Steve Buscemi “hello fellow kids” meme than I do today. And, yet – here I am anyway…my emotions and desires laid bare for all the world to see. I’m already starting this post off on an emo note, and I haven’t even gotten to the damn playlist yet.
Nonetheless, last week, I ended up down a Spotify rabbit hole that landed me in some early 2000s era emo/screamo/hardcore/metal, and man did it bring back some memories. We’re not talkin’ about your everyday Underoath and Norma Jean – that stuff pops up on my radar every once in awhile. We’re talkin’ some Armor For Sleep and pre-“this music is suitable for the WWE” era Eighteen Visions. Some broke like glass talkin’ ass if you know what I’m saying.
I was never super scene…never dyed my hair or pierced anything…never dressed real scene….even back in the day, I was a hoodie and jeans type of guy. I did have super long hair, though, and I probably looked a little dirty. The truth is that I’ve always felt kind of in between scenes. Another emo thing to say – but, like…I could fit in with any group, but belonged to none kind of deal. I had some fun going to shows, though. There’s no doubt about that. The 2000s were a fun time on Nashville’s scene – we were going to shows once a week or so back in my prime – Killswitch Engage, Every Time I Die, Bleeding Through, you name it.
While some of my friends got in the pit and did the hardcore dancing that, even at the time, I thought looked foolish, I was always standing in the back of the room watching everything. I always thought I was going to hurt someone if I tried to swing my feet around in the air and just didn’t want that on my conscience. Plus, if I danced, I’d get sweaty, and then I’d definitely not meet a lady of the night, as it were.
One time, I met a woman who seemed super into me and then she asked if she could sit on my shoulders to see the stage. I obliged, thinking I had just met the love my life, only to realize she literally just wanted to see the stage. As soon as the show was over, she ghosted me and I didn’t even know what ghosting was at the time. That’s why you never want to be the guy with broad shoulders at the Underoath show.
Regardless, the scene was fun, always exciting, and it provided me with some fond memories I’ll remember for the rest of my life – like the time one of my friends got hit in the pit and decided to break a dude’s glasses over it, only to discover that the kid was 14 (we were 18), and we had to leave the show because he said he called the cops. Classic stuff. Anyway, thanks for accompanying me on this trip down Memory Lane, but this is where I leave you.
I’m no Steven McCash when it comes to creating a badass playlist, but I at least had to give this one a shot after traveling down the rabbit hole last week and reliving so many of my favorite bands. Check it out here. If you were in the pit at Rocketown in 2006, this one’s for you!
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
Check out the SoBros Shop. Become a Patron. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Watch on YouTube.
