On The Scene: Emo Nite at Webster Hall, Yes Please.

Every Nite is Emo Nite.

Last Saturday night, The Knockturnal attended Emo Nite at Webster Hall in New York City.

“Every nite is Emo Nite” blinked across LED screens on stage and served as the visible actuality for what was truly an epically emo night. Emo Nite is the OG Emo party that started the Emo renaissance exactly ten years ago. It was created by happenstance by Morgan Freed and TJ Petracca. A real, right-playlist-at-the-right-time scenario. Petracca and Freed linked up at a local bar, connected their favorite emo tunes to the speakers, and started rocking out. Some friend were invited later, and much to their surprise the venue was at double capacity. It became a continued formula that grew their one-night grandstand into a long-lasting partnership and fruitful business. The first of many. Which brings us back to September 21, 2024, at Webster Hall in NYC.

Emo Nite at Webster Hall, September 21, 2024, Valerie Magan

Morgan and TJ kicked off the night with Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Do You Remember?” Appropriately so. We would remember, and it was, in fact, the twenty-first night of September. The vibes were “That’s my song!!” Collective screams of “YES!”, “Yaas!” and “Yeees!” (insert screamo voice) could be heard within the first three notes of every song. Petracca and Freed invited partygoers on stage to dance the night away. A highlight from the night was seeing that Emo Nite is truly about the people. It takes care of its own. Smoky-eyed, black and checked or striped, graphic tee-clad people rushed the stage to dance and sing their hearts out. Morgan and TJ played “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” by Panic At The Disco, along with “King For A Day” by Pierce The Veil, and finally My Chemical Romance’s “Teenagers” before opening it up to the next DJs, Static Dress.

Emo Nite at Webster Hall, September 21, 2024, Valerie Magan

Static Dress is a post-hardcore, screamo, emo band that came on stage hyped after just performing earlier in the night. They started off with “Fat Lip” by Sum 41 — a perfect opener then played Blink-182’s standard “All The Small Things” and “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers. At one point, they handed the mic over to an excited fan, who screamed into the mic pretty impressively, surprising the crowd and Static Dress band members. They also played “Self-Righteous Suicide” by System of a Down. Toward the end they played “Annie, Are You Ok?” by Michael Jackson, among others.

The next DJ was Ben Soffer, aka Boy With No Job, Good Guys podcast host, and Spritz drink creator. Soffer is married to Claudia Oshry, aka Girl With No Job and The Toast podcast host. Soffer had just come from an engagement party, so he and his friends showed up in suits. They took their JOB of supporting their BOY seriously and hyped up the crowd. Ben opened with “Beverly Hills” by Weezer and played songs like Paramore’s “Misery Business.” At 1:00 am, “Better Off On My Own” by Sum 41 came on, and shortly after, My Chemical Romance’s “Black Parade.” The setlist included Papa Roach’s “My Last Resort,” and Wheatus’s “Teenage Dirtbag.” When “Scotty Doesn’t Know” by Lustra came on, everyone just about lost it.

Emo Nite at Webster Hall, September 21, 2024, Valerie Magan

Morgan and TJ then introduced the star DJs of the night: Aaron Gillespie and Spencer Chamberlain from the American rock band Underoath. They came from their own show at the Palladium in Times Square but it was as if this was their first stop. Gillespie and Chamberlain played a wide range of music including Fall Out Boy’s “Dance Dance,” Miley Cyrus’s “Party in The USA,” “Numb” by Linkin Park, “My Friends Over You” by New Found Glory, “Hot To Go” by Chappell Roan, and “Can You Feel My Heart” by Bring Me The Horizon.

The end of the night — or, I should say, almost morning — brought out Blake The Man 1000, who played “Gives You Hell” by All-American Rejects, followed by some original music.

Emo Nite at Webster Hall, September 21, 2024, Valerie Magan

Emo Nite likes to show by example where “Every Nite Is Emo Nite.” Once one is over, you can already start planning for your next visit.

You can catch one of Emo Nite’s biggest nights at Zouk in Las Vegas this October 18. Don’t forget to celebrate Emo Nite’s 10th anniversary this December 7,8 at, the Emo Day/Emo Nite weekend festival in LA. There are even special Emo Nite deals for those looking to stay at the iconic Roosevelt Hotel.

Find your local Emo Nite below and get your tickets today!

October 

3 – Chemistry Nightclub – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

4 – AVALON – Los Angeles, California

4 – Holocene – Portland, Oregon

4 – Subterranean – Chicago, Illinois

4 – WORKPLAY – Furnace Fest Afterparty – Birmingham, Alabama

11 – South Side Music Hall – Dallas, Texas

11 – Neumos – Seattle, Washington

11 – Headliners – Louisville, Kentucky

18 – The Casbah – San Diego, California

18 – Fine Line – Minneapolis, Minnesota

18 – Zouk Nightclub – Las Vegas, Nevada

19 – Knitting Factory – Spokane, Washington

19 – Growlers – Memphis, Tennessee

25 – Club Congress – Tucson, Arizona

25 – Republik – Honolulu, Hawaii

25 – The Waiting Room + Reverb Lounge – Omaha, Nebraska

25 – Bell’s Back Room – Kalamazoo, Michigan

26 – The Ground Miami – Miami, Florida

26 – Wooly’s – Des Moines, Iowa

26 – The Granada – Lawrence, Kansas

26 – MEOW WOLF DANCEPORTATION – Denver, Colorado

November 

1 – Magic Bag – Ferndale, Michigan

8 – Underground Arts – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

8 – Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, Arizona

8 – The Masquerade – Atlanta, Georgia

15 – Otto Bar – Baltimore, Maryland

15 – Deluxe – Indianapolis, Indiana

22 – The Marc – San Marcos, Texas

23 – The Glass House – Pomona, California

29 – The National – Richmond, Virginia

29 – Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, Colorado

30 – Bogart’s – Cincinnati, Ohio

30 – Ace of Spades – Sacramento, California

30 – The NorVa – Norfolk, Virginia

December

7 – Echoplex – God Bless The Echoplex – Los Angeles, California

8 – Hollywood Palladium – Emo Nite Day Carnival – Los Angeles, California

8 – Academy – Grave Rave – Los Angeles, California