Ones2Watch Home

photos: Moe Horta

What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas and this year’s When We Were Young Fest is certainly proof of that. Back for the third year in a row, the trailblazing festival celebrating all things pop-punk and emo (plus some metalcore, too) put on a special twist for this year’s edition by having artists play fan-favorite albums in full, some of which have never been played live before. 

This past weekend in Vegas featured over 60 bands spread across five different stages with diehard fans making the trip from all over the world to experience once-in-a-lifetime moments. 

In between crying at sets, throwing down in the pit, and running from stage to stage, The Noise had the chance to catch up with beloved bands such as August Burns Red, Mayday Parade, Armor For Sleep, The Used, Silverstein, The Devil Wears Prada, Cartel, and Tonight Alive to chat all about the who, what, when, where and why of the albums they played at When We Were Young, plus more. 

To see what they had to say, be sure to read below and follow The Noise on Instagram for even more When We Were Young coverage!

SHANE TOLD - SILVERSTEIN

WHO: are you most excited to watch at the festival and what does the album they’re playing mean to you?

For me, it’s Jimmy Eat World. They’ve never done Bleed American in full and it’s by far their most popular. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve listened to this from start to finish and just let it repeat. It’s going to be really cool to hear the deep cuts that I have never heard live before. They also sound phenomenal every single time. 

WHAT: are you most excited about for your album playthrough set? Is there a deep cut you’re looking forward to playing the most? 

Definitely excited for a different rendition of "Already Dead."  Let’s just say it’s a very “Cute” version of the song (without the E).

WHEN: did you realize the album you’re playing at WWWY was going to be something special that fans would resonate with?  

When the record came out and made a big splash with sales and everything, it was pretty mind-blowing that people cared so much about our little band. But at that point, we never thought nearly 20 years later people would still be freaking out over it. It still surprises me, but since I feel so connected to so many of our peers' records, I get it. The album is also about to be certified gold… finally…. 20 years later. 

WHERE: do you see the future of emo music headed and what can we do to preserve the roots of the scene?

There are just so many great bands making huge waves right now. Someone like Hot Mulligan just taking the world by storm right now is so cool to see. It’s cool to hear that the younger bands are taking a few pages out of our book and using our roadmap a little bit. When we started, there were no “hit” emo records or anything. It was underground music. But to see the younger bands taking this scene places is really fun to watch. 

WHY: do you think the album you are playing has stood the test of time?

I mean, it doesn’t sound like it came out yesterday or anything production-wise, but I also wouldn’t change a fucking note on this thing. I think the songs, the emotions, the subject matter … is timeless. People keep discovering this album (pun very much intended) and it keeps transcending generations. When I first heard Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin, those albums were also over 20 years old. So it’s really special to us that our albums are on that level to some people. Just don’t call us Classic Rock, please.   

Bonus Question: What are some albums you’d like to see played in full that aren’t being played this weekend?

Just Surrender was a criminally underrated band I’d love to see come back. The Movielife - 40 Hour Train Back To Penn. And most of all, Lifetime - Jersey’s Best Dancers.  

JENNA MCDOUGALL - TONIGHT ALIVE

WHO: are you most excited to watch at the festival and what does the album they’re playing mean to you?

Jimmy Eat World comes to mind first for the significance of Bleed American to me as a teen. Along with The Starting Line, they are the bands that put the producer Mark Trombino on our map, who we went on to make our debut record with in 2010. The festival will also be my first time seeing My Chemical Romance and they are probably the last nostalgic and influential band for me to see live, so I’m anticipating a very touching experience!

WHAT: are you most excited for during your album playthrough set? Is there a deep cut that you’re looking forward to playing the most? 

There’s something about the song "Complexes" that made it a fan (and personal) favorite, probably because the lyrics are so painfully vulnerable, but it was rarely in our setlists over the years. So it will be special to give that song its due honor. 

WHEN: did you realize the album you’re playing at WWWY was going to be something special that fans would resonate with? 

It was pretty apparent from the beginning. In retrospect, that was when our community expanded the most and our relationships with each other deepened significantly. The Other Side was probably the bonding point for a lot of people because it was such an emotional, fiery and cathartic record. We were touring relentlessly and reflective of the music, there was a fierce passion within the band so I think it was a pretty electric era. 

WHERE: do you see the future of emo music headed and what can we do to preserve the roots of the scene? 

It’s pretty wild to hear emo themes integrated into more modern production and blended genres now. I think one of the special things about emo worth preserving is the lyrical and cultural commitment to anti-conformity. If that sense of originality and rebellion from especially the lyricist/vocalist is lost, then I think the spirit of emo’s roots in punk is lost. 

WHY: do you think the album you are playing has stood the test of time? 

Somehow, it’s aged well. I sort of describe the record as [a] “musical” because it’s really melodic and every player gave such an energetic performance. That feels like the focus, alongside the intimate storytelling. I wouldn’t say it’s timeless, but it doesn’t feel dated to me.

Bonus Question: What are some albums you’d like to see played in full that aren’t being played this weekend? 

It was too bad to see The All-American Rejects pull off the festival because they were my first concert at 14 and I was a big fan of "Move Along." It would be amazing to see Avril Lavigne play Let Go or Blink-182 play Take Off Your Pants and Jacket. But honestly, I'm feeling so spoiled to see The Used and Simple Plan in one day!

JB BRUBAKER - AUGUST BURNS RED

WHO: are you most excited to watch at the festival and what does the album they’re playing mean to you?

I’m most excited for Nada Surf playing their album Let Go. That is one of my all-time favorite records, and I never would have dreamed that I’d get to see them play the whole album and much less that my band would be playing at the same event. It really is a dream come true for me! I have listened to that album more times than I can count. It’s easily in my top 10 of all-time records. I will be watching that show both nights.

WHAT: are you most excited for during your album playthrough set? Is there a deep cut that you’re looking forward to playing the most? 

What excites me most about our show at When We Were Young is how different ABR sounds than the majority of the bill. I feel like we stick out a bit as far as being a metal band without any singing or choruses or anything like that. We are really honored to have been asked to perform at this fest for that very reason. It will just be something a little different than most of the day.

A deep cut I’m most excited to play is the last song off our album Constellations, “Crusades.” It’s a song we have seldom played live and has one of my favorite breakdowns we’ve ever written in the middle of the song. I look forward to banging my head to that one.

WHEN: did you realize the album you’re playing at WWWY was going to be something special that fans would resonate with?  

We knew Constellations was popular amongst our fans right out of the gates. That album opened a lot of doors for us. We played on our first successful headline tours on that album cycle and were able to be a part of some really awesome support tours. As time has gone by we’ve heard a lot of our fans say that Constellations is their favorite album in our discography so it’s no surprise that WWWY chose this record for us to perform. We are so thankful this record has stood the test of time and is still enjoyed by our fans.

WHERE: do you see the future of emo music headed and what can we do to preserve the roots of the scene?

I think this scene is in a really unique place right now. Most of us who came up with these bands are now old enough to have families of our own. As parents we are sharing our favorite bands and albums from this time period with our children and cultivating an entirely new generation of “emo” fans. We all feel so bonded to this scene and this music, and our children are going to see how important these bands have been to us, and that’s going to cause many of them to become fans as well. For that reason, I think this scene will be alive and well for many years to come.

WHY: do you think the album you are playing has stood the test of time?

I think it came out at a time when people were really open and hungry for the style of music we were playing. We just sort of caught lightning in a bottle with Constellations. Our band was touring all the time and we were firing on all cylinders. We wrote the songs we wanted to hear and what we wanted was also what the metalcore community was wanting. After all these years, the nostalgia of that time period, along with the songs on this album, have kept Constellations in the forefront of a lot of our fan’s minds. We are very fortunate to have an album in our catalog that has such deep roots with our listeners.

Bonus Question: What are some albums you’d like to see played in full that aren’t being played this weekend?

Finch - What It Is To Burn

Hot Rod Circuit - Sorry About Tomorrow

The Get Up Kids - Something to Write Home About

Blink 182 - Enema of the State

Alkaline Trio - From Here to Infirmary

JEREMY LENZO - MAYDAY PARADE

WHO: are you most excited to watch at the festival and what does the album they’re playing mean to you?

I am most excited to see Saves The Day play the entirety of Stay What You Are, that band and album had a huge influence on me as a musician back when our band started. They were one of the few artists that everyone in our band loved and enjoyed singing along to. I remember blasting their album Through Being Cool on the way home after a breakup and just screaming the lyrics on my drive home.

WHAT: are you most excited for during your album playthrough set? Is there a deep cut that you’re looking forward to playing the most? 

I think the song I am most excited to play is "Jamie All Over." It's definitely not a deep cut, it may even be our most popular song at the moment, but I am curious to see how many people in the crowd will know it considering how many people are attending the festival.

WHEN: did you realize the album you’re playing at WWWY was going to be something special that fans would resonate with?  

I mean, we've been a band for 20 years now. I think we knew for a long time this album was our most influential piece of work. It really means a lot to our fans, and it came out at a time where it just resonated with a lot of people.

WHERE: do you see the future of emo music headed and what can we do to preserve the roots of the scene?

I don't know where emo music is heading, but like everything, it will change with the times. I don't think there is anything you can do to preserve the roots, and honestly, I don't think I would want to. Each generation brings something unique that sets it apart from what's come before, and that's a good thing, it means each generation has something special to offer, and makes going back to listen to those old albums special because it's something you don't find anymore. If every artist kept to the roots of the genre, everything would just become bland after a while.

WHY: do you think the album you are playing has stood the test of time?

I'm not sure why our album A Lesson In Romantics has been as popular as it is, if i knew that I think we would be trying to use that formula of success for each album. I think for most bands, their first record is usually the most impactful, and I attribute that to having all the time in the world to write it and perfect it. 

A band's first album is usually written coming out of high school for most bands, and they have no real obligations and all the time in the world. You can just write and have band practice every day if you want. After that first album, if it's successful, you get signed and tour on that record, and then you need to follow that record up within two years. Except now, you have obligations, and you don't have all the time in the world, so creating something that would be as impactful, if not more impactful, becomes much harder.

Bonus Question: What are some albums you’d like to see played in full that aren’t being played this weekend?

Going back to Saves The Day, I would love it if they were playing Sound The Alarm. That's another of my favorite records of theirs and I've only gotten to hear a handful of songs off of it. I wish the Get Up Kids were playing and doing Four Minute Mile or Something To Write Home About. If Northstar was there playing Pollyanna I would miss my set for it. There are a ton of artist’s records I'd love to see, but I think this year has a great lineup that I'm excited about.

BEN JORGENSEN - ARMOR FOR SLEEP

WHO: are you most excited to watch at the festival and what does the album they’re playing mean to you?

There are so many sets I want to catch. If I really had to narrow my wish list down to one set, it would be the Stay What You Are set by Saves the Day. That album meant the world to me when I was rounding out my time in high school and it heavily influenced the first bunch of songs I wrote for Armor for Sleep. It’s one of my favorite albums ever.

WHAT are you most excited for during your album playthrough set? Is there a deep cut that you’re looking forward to playing the most? 

I’m just ready to rip through the whole thing. We so rarely get to just focus on one album and it’s fun to be transported back to when we made that one. I guess playing some of the quieter tracks like “A Quick Little Flight” and “Basement Ghost Singing” will be interesting to play at a massive festival! Can’t wait. 

WHERE: do you see the future of emo music headed and what can we do to preserve the roots of the scene?

Your guess is as good as mine. I hope it never goes away. The bands that helped build it still have an audience and new bands can come through and challenge the boundaries, but I’ve never been great at predicting the future. 

WHY: do you think the album you are playing has stood the test of time?

I think everyone thinks about their own mortality. It’s such a universal part of all of our lives. I think having an album about facing death (and life) has just resonated with our fans in a deeper way over the years. Humbled to have had this record make its way into so many people's lives over the years. 

Bonus Question: What are some albums you’d like to see played in full that aren’t being played this weekend?

I mean, I would have loved for FOB to have played Take This To Your Grave in full. But I’m sure their set is going to be unreal regardless. It's not like they have a shortage of great songs. 

JEPHA - THE USED

WHO: are you most excited to watch at the festival and what does the album they’re playing mean to you?

A lot of old friends, too many to pick from. Excited to relive some great memories and get some even greater hugs. 

WHAT: are you most excited for during your album playthrough set? Is there a deep cut you’re looking forward to playing the most?

Yeah, “Light with a Sharpened Edge” and “Lunacy Fringe.” We never play them even though they are great live, we just never have the time in our usual setlists. 

WHEN: did you realize the album you’re playing at WWWY was going to be something special that fans would resonate with?  

The cover art heart noose is our most tattooed piece of art [laughs]. Even everyone in the band has it somewhere. 

WHERE: do you see the future of emo music headed and what can we do to preserve the roots of the scene?

To me emo/screamo was a title for music from an era. I hope music evolves and changes and doesn’t try too hard to recreate. Just get influenced and move up and on to something greater.

WHY: do you think the album you are playing has stood the test of time?

Lucky for us, it’s still helping fill a void that some people are going through at points in their lives. The lyrics and emotional theme are pretty strong on this record. 

Bonus Question: What are some albums you’d like to see played in full that aren’t being played this weekend?

Beastie Boys - Ill Communication, A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders, Earth, Wind & Fire - Greatest Hits, Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, OutKast- Stankonia, Incubus - Science, Rage Against The Machine - Self-Titled, Jamiroquai - Traveling Without Moving, Mos Def - Black On Both Sides, The Used - Artwork, Coalesce - Functioning On Impatience, Converge - Jane Doe, Faith No More - Angel Dust and Cave In - Until Your Heart Stops. Just to name a few off the top of my head…

MIKE HRANICA - THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 

WHO: are you most excited to watch at the festival and what does the album they’re playing mean to you?

Probably My Chemical Romance, but at the same time I think I’m most excited to see buddies in Silverstein and A Day to Remember. Always great to catch up!

WHAT: are you most excited for during your album playthrough set? Is there a deep cut that you’re looking forward to playing the most? 

We’ve got a song called “Don’t Dink and Drance” that we haven’t played in years and years. As I’ve gone back to learn these songs, I’ve come to realize that I dig that tune. If the other guys feel the same maybe we add it to upcoming setlists for tour.

WHEN: did you realize the album you’re playing at WWWY was going to be something special that fans would resonate with?  

Oh, I don’t really focus on that. If listeners like this record, then that’s all the flattery I need.

WHERE: do you see the future of emo music headed and what can we do to preserve the roots of the scene?

That’s an interesting question. We can really see the ebbs and flows in certain genres as we’ve gotten further out of the 90s and early 2000s. Specifically analyzing the ins and outs of alternative rock. With that I think emo is actually quite a power house and will continue to have its moments of thriving on a mainstream scale.

WHY: do you think the album you are playing has stood the test of time?

I think Plagues combined a lot of different things when it came out. Subjectively speaking, I thought that the components that make up the album were obvious, but now that I look back I can see that not a lot of bands were doing what Plagues was doing at that time.

Bonus Question: What are some albums you’d like to see played in full that aren’t being played this weekend?

The Bled - Pass the Flask

WILL PUGH - CARTEL

Who: are you most excited to watch at the festival and what does the album they’re playing mean to you? 

New Found Glory, Jimmy Eat World, Saves The Day, and Four Year Strong. All of these albums have had a part in influencing Cartel's past and future.

WHAT: are you most excited for during your album playthrough set? Is there a deep cut that you’re looking forward to playing the most? 

We don’t get to play “Q” and “A” unless it’s an album play, so that’s going to be a lot of fun.

WHEN: did you realize the album you’re playing at WWWYF was going to be something special that fans would resonate with? 

Playing it for our friends after we had just finished recording it. They all looked at us and said it was going to be really special and that got us very stoked [laughs]. From there, it just kept being validated by the crowd size and the response increasing.

WHERE: do you see the future of emo music headed and what can we do to preserve the roots of the scene? 

“The more things change, the more things stay the same.” The future is headed wherever the artists take it. I would say that the way you “vote” on how things shake out is by showing up to shows, buying merch, and listening to the music of the bands you want to make it. We have to be actively engaged with the music we love in order for it to last. Sitting at home isn’t an option any longer.

WHY: do you think the album you are playing has stood the test of time? 

I’d say all the people at this festival prove that all of these albums have stood the test of time.

Bonus Question: What are some albums you’d like to see played in full that aren’t being played this weekend? 

[Jimmy Eat World’s] Clarity. Full stop. [Refused’s] The Shape Of Punk To Come, also.

BUDDY NIELSEN - SENSES FAIL

WHO: are you most excited to watch at the festival and what does the album they’re playing mean to you?

I am most excited to see Pierce The Veil. I've always been a fan, and I think their show has gotten so good. I can't wait to see them kill it in front of so many people. 

WHAT: are you most excited for during your album playthrough set? Is there a deep cut that you’re looking forward to playing the most?

"Lost and Found" is always a great moment for us in a set. And also "To All The Crowded Rooms," which is one of my favorite SF songs. 

WHEN: did you realize the album you’re playing at WWWY was going to be something special that fans would resonate with?  

That is always the hope but I am always surprised how many people Still Searching has touched. It is very humbling. 

WHERE: do you see the future of emo music headed and what can we do to preserve the roots of the scene?

I think, just like any subgenre, it has something to offer [to] mainstream music and pop music. We are in a resurgence of the genre and I can see how it has influenced a lot of current music. I hope to always be involved with this music scene and I hope I make the fans proud. 

WHY: do you think the album you are playing has stood the test of time?

I feel like the goal when we wrote it was to make a timeless record and I do think we have achieved that. It is always evolving and I hope it stays timeless. 

Bonus Question: What are some albums you’d like to see played in full that aren’t being played this weekend?

Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal 

Hatebreed - Satisfaction Is The Death Of Desire

Northstar - Pollyanna

Jets To Brazil - Orange Rhyming Dictionary 

TUCKER RULE - THURSDAY/LS DUNES

WHO: are you most excited to watch at the festival and what does the album they’re playing mean to you?

This fest is a reunion of a lot of people we came up with. I was really excited to watch Coheed but they played the same time as Thursday. I loved watching Saves the Day, watching [Joe] Trohman shred with FOB, and seeing my buddy Lonnie [Robinson] kill it with PTV. The highlight was watching MCR decimate 80k people. 

WHAT: are you most excited for about your set? Is there a song that you’re looking forward to playing the most?

I’m truly grateful to be able to play with all the people in both our bands. There’s not a song that gets me most excited. To me, it’s just the fact that we can still connect with all these people after all these years. It’s never worth it to leave your families to go on the road, but it’s moments like these that kind of soften that blow. 

WHEN: did you realize you were going to be playing two sets at WWWY and how do you prepare to pull double duty?

It’s always been a dream of mine to be a working musician [so] when the offers came to both bands, I immediately said yes. I take a lot of pride in what I/we do, so to be able to do it twice in a day and have both sets be meaningful, gives me a lot of gratitude. 

WHERE: do you see the future of emo music headed and what can we do to preserve the roots of the scene?

I don’t really think about emo music to be honest. Music is music and I’m happy when people are excited about their art. I like playing and I’m happy to be able to get our art in front of whomever is open to hearing it. Music is healing whether you’re on stage or not. 

WHY: is this next L.S. Dunes record going to be so special and what can you tell us about it?

Violet is so special to me. I feel truly lucky to be a part of this record. We made it together in a room all playing at the same time. All of our blood, sweat, and tears… all of our personalities and musical tastes are apparent. All of the time we’ve spent in our lives working on our crafts is showcased in this body of work. I’m absolutely in love with Violet, every nook and cranny. 

Bonus Question: What are some albums you’d like to see played in full that aren’t being played this weekend?

I think I would’ve loved to see Beck’s Sea Change or Fiona Apple’s When the Pawn, but those weren’t on the list of activities.