When We Were Young Fest 2024

It was never a phase, mom! And thanks to When We Were Young Festival on October 19th, 2024 in Vegas, we have the validation to back it up. What started as a one-day wonder has blossomed into an annual week-long vacation for elder emos across the globe. In its third installment, we’ve reached a place where we know our community is waiting for a therapy session of shameless singing of sad songs with 15-year-old band shirts on and vans loaded with Dr. Scholl’s. Thanks to many bands/artists, local venues, and clubs across the entertainment capital, multiple pre-parties (aka, concerts) and events have come to further satisfy our emo hearts.

The week leading up to WWWY was poppin’, with numerous events all across Vegas.

Emo folks could be found at any of the many side shows, featuring bands on and off the official roster, including the deejays of ‘Emo Nite’ and even a pop-punk pool party. After the full-day extravaganza, many patrons hopped over to WWWY’s official late night hang, ‘Emo Night Brooklyn’, for a night cap and (possibly) a singalong with whatever voice was left in them.

And the festival itself, honestly, lived up to every hope that I had for 2024 and more. Walking on that (now) iconic purple carpet under the arch, asking a stranger (or new friend) to snap a photo, felt like taking a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower of counterculture. It just felt right. Alongside each side stood 3D art installations of giant blocks, each side depicting an album being played at the festival. It was so insanely cool looking, but also I’m sure it’s deeper intention is representing the building blocks of our generation (or something like that). Further walking into the festival found me right back at the year 2000, with more installations showcasing the average Millennial bedroom: square TVs, thicker than they are wide, inflatable chairs among floppy bean bags, and a wall completely covered in band posters, magazine rip-outs, and multiple guitars. We were visually and audibly transported back to our teenage wasteland.

With over 60 artists spanning five stages for over 12 hours, strategy was key in making it through the warm Las Vegas day.

High-energy acts The Paradox, L.S. Dunes, and Myspace queens The Millionaires kicked the day off in appropriate fashion to set the vibe for what ultimately panned out to be the best version of WWWY yet. It was not even 11am and the LV Festival Grounds had already seen a generous amount of mosh pits and crowd-surfing. Mayday Parade’s “Jaime All Over” hit like I had never seen before, with the iconic opening line “I had a dream last night, we drove out to see Las Vegas” ringing out loud for the city to hear. Underoath delivered what can only be described as a powerhouse set, featuring They’re Only Chasing Safety, leaving optimal space to breathe. We tried to collectively rest our bodies, while we cried together during Dashboard Confessional‘s Dusk and Summer. As if we weren’t already thrilled enough with a return from Cobra Starship, they took it up a notch and brought out Fall Out Boy’s frontman Patrick Stump for an insane live rendition of “Kiss My Sass”.

Another epic reunion that stood out was the return of Craig Owens in his brainchild band Chiodos, who took the stage together for the first time in eight years. As they hit the first notes of All’s Well That Ends Well, the bank took off as if they were secretly playing together this entire time. The chemistry, excitement, and stage command exuded made the thick crowd reciprocate with multiple pits and insanely loud sing[scream]alongs. Right before their legendary hit “Baby, You Wouldn’t Last A Minute On The Creek”, Craig revealed that this would not be Chiodos’s only show and that they would be touring the album with Hawthorne Heights in Spring 2025! As the sun began to set, The Used brought out the light with pyro, giving us a whole new level of excitement to one of the most beloved albums of our time, In Love and Death.

Shoutout to the ILAD tree-heart tattoo club!

Fresh off their world tour with blink-182, Pierce the Veil played Collide with the Sky, bringing out BOTH featured guests from the album: that’s right, in addition to Kellin Quinn for “King for a Day”, we also got Jason Butler (of fever333) to perform their track “Tangled in the Great Escape”. When the sun had fully set, A Day To Remember came to play with the TP rolls, beach balls, and real vibes in their emotional hit — “If It Means A Lot to You”. Fall Out Boy lived their own life by the 8 Ball, giving us an “eras” set spanning through each of their albums, with big hits and deep cuts. The real twist from the magic 8 ball was “Cupid’s Chokehold” with the one and only Travie McCoy joining them on stage. ICONIC!

And on that note, the grande finale — My Chemical Romance played The Black Parade. And they did not just deliver The Black Parade, oh no. Gorgeous new string arrangements adorned already soul-touching songs “The End” and “Cancer”, which have not been played live in over 15 years (in addition to “Disenchanted”).

This year’s When We Were Young Festival wasn’t just an event, it was a heartfelt homage to a musical movement that continues to inspire. With its thoughtful curation and unforgettable experiences, we’re already counting down to next year’s edition.

Photography by Franny Kovacs

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