Emo band
Most people have a horribly limited idea of what emo is, simply because the most important records in the development of emo were largely released on on vinyl, in small numbers, and with limited distribution. These were however very influential, so nowadays you have the situation that a lot of kids listen to third- and fourth-generation emo styles without even knowing it. I hope to expose such people to a wealth of great preceding music that's getting easier to find all the time...After Minor Threat broke up in late 1983, the vibrant DC hardcore-punk scene that exploded in 1981 seems to start to
run out of steam and fresh ideas within the established DC hardcore sound. The wistful, posthumous Minor Threat 7" "
Salad Days" comes out in 1984 and drives the final nail into the coffin of DC hardcore punk. Bands all over the country begin casting about for new things to do : DRI and Bad Brains start going cheeze-metal, New York bands start doing tough-guy mosh, 7Seconds goes
jangly U2 alternative, etc. The prevailing change in D.C. is toward melodic rock with punk sensibilities.1984 marks the release of Zen Arcade by Minneapolis band Hü
sker Dü, documenting their new mature sound combining furious, intense vocal delivery and driving guitars with slowed-down
rockish tempos and more-complex, melodic songwriting.In spring 1984, a new band called Rites Of Spring forms from members of
The Untouchables/Faith and Deadline. This band retains a punk speed and frenzy, but brings a totally new vocal approach to the mix. Singer Guy
Picciotto keeps an out-of-breath punk style most of the time, at times delving into intensely personal lyrics dripping with emotion and sweat. His voice breaks down at climactic moments into a throaty, gravelly, passionate moan.The summer of 1985 becomes known as "Revolution Summer" when a new wave of rock-tempo, melody based, sung-vocal bands forms out of the DC punk musician pool with diverse rock sounds - Three,
Gray Matter,
Soulside, Ignition, Marginal Man,
Fire Party, Rain, Shudder to Think, etc. Few bands retain the fast hardcore punk-based sound with the new vocal approach,
Dag Nasty being the notable exception.
Minor Threat's singer,
Ian MacKaye's, sings for a band called Embrace (compare the band name to earlier DC bands Minor Threat, Void, and State Of Alert) whose lyrics are emotional and deeply self-questioning, but still clear and
unambiguous. Musically, the group (formed mostly of ex-Faith members) writes midtempo, somewhat jangly music with a lot of pop guitar hooks. MacKaye's vocals retain his trademark bold enunciation, with only occasional sparks of emotive delivery.These bands' sound eventually becomes known as the classic "D.C. sound." Some of it is derisively labeled "emo," as shorthand for "emotional." One account has this term first appearing in a Flipside interview with
Ian MacKaye. Shortly thereafter DC bands aquire the tag "
emo-core."Slightly later (1986), some bands begin to focus on the "emo" element itself. The Hated in Annapolis (near D.C.) seem to be the first post-Rites of Spring to do this. Shortly thereafter, Moss Icon appears in in the same town. Moss Icon strips the "emo" element down to the core, and adds a great deal of intricate, arpeggiated guitar melody (by
Tonie Joy, later of Born Against, Lava, Universal Order of Armageddon, etc.) with a strong focus
on loud/soft dynamics. The vocals, too, break new ground by building up to actual top-of-the-lungs screaming at songs' climaxes.Moss Icon, as a relatively well-known band that toured some, introduces the punk scene to music that has core emphasis on emotion instead of punk energy. As such, I consider them the starting point for
the emo movement, not Rites of Spring as is more commonly asserted. Later emo bands draw heavily from the Moss Icon dynamics, guitar style, and vocal delivery.
emo bands
by SomeBadJOKE on May 26, 2007 05:36:00
Bands that, much like emo kids themselves, all look and sound very similar. In fact, there may be pretty much no difference between
Emo Band A and Emo Band B. That's how annoying it can get.
Emo bands may have a lot of potential, but sadly, it is all wasted because they
try too hard to fit under one stereotype, just like the average emo kid.
Example:
Characteristics of emo bands:
1. The singer sounds just like
Adam Lazzara
2. Some of the lyrics may be screamed
3.
Poppy sound
4. Very simple
guitar riffs
5. Two or more of the band members have "
emo hair," and the singer is usually one of them
6. Don't forget eyeliner
7. Lyrics include the weirdest, most nonsensical-sounding metaphors ever, something along the lines of "My little period at the end of your sentence..."
8. Songs are about relationships or life in general - they are NEVER optimistic, though they may be upbeat
9. The band members will always deny the "emo" label, much like emo kids (once again)
10. Usually disappear after two or three albums, or with some cases, even one, but not before at least one of their songs becomes a radio hit