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photos: Moe Horta

By now, you’ve probably heard the joke that emo nights are just ’80s nights for millennials, and honestly, there might be some truth behind that statement. Nostalgia is a hell of a drug and it is no surprise that the pop-punk-themed, Warped Tour-inspired festival When We Were Young has created such a buzz amongst older alternative music fans, resulting in back-to-back years of sold out shows.

This past weekend in Las Vegas, with over 50 bands spread across four stages (plus the debut of an X Games vert ramp), festivalgoers from all around the globe were treated to an amazing, action-packed night they'll never forget. 

While fans were riding the nostalgia wave bouncing from stage to stage, we decided to reminisce with bands such as Citizen, Magnolia Park, and Sum 41 to hear all about their upbringing, as well as some of their early musical inspirations. We even got the chance to ask legendary, pro-skateboarding trailblazer Tony Hawk a few questions about his love of music as well. 

To see what everyone had to say, be sure to read below for all things When We Were Young!

CITIZEN

Who: was “that” band or artist that got you into this scene and why were they so influential?

Green Day’s Dookie was a revelation in my life as a kid. Made me realize I wanted to play guitar and wanted to write music and also helped inform the concept of punk in my mind, even though of course it was on a massive scale.

What: is one fad or trend from your youth that you’d like to see make a comeback or one that you wish would stay away forever? 

I don’t really pay too much mind to trends, both in following but also in hating. I think there’s something inherently negative about following the herd or not digging beneath the surface of anything that you do.

When: was that moment you knew you wanted to pursue music full-time as a career? 

It all happened accidentally and I wouldn’t say it became a career until fairly recently. But I knew I was passionate about music from a young age. I was also passionate about creating anything. I think there’s as much joy in writing a song for me as there would be to something like making a piece of art or building a chair or something like that. Any opportunity to make something is amazing and even better if you can live life off of it.

Where: would you like to see this scene grow in the next 5-10 years?

Well, selfishly, I hope bands in our realm continue to play bigger spaces and reach wider audiences. There’s negative aspects of that as well, but I think that overall, it would be a positive thing.

Why: do you think festivals like WWWY are important for the next generation of emo fans?

I think that they highlight the importance of bands that were always alternatives to what was the most dominating music of any point in time. But I think smaller festivals filled with upcoming and young bands are ultimately the most important thing for eager and hungry ears and minds. 

SUM 41

Who: was “that” band or artist that got you into this scene and why were they so influential?

Dave Baksh: Well, my first exposure was like everyone else’s that watched Much Music (Canada’s MTV) in the 80’s so The Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Misfits were my introduction. Thanks to friends and tape trading, I always had a steady diet of 90’s punk rock mixed with everything we were all listening to at that time. 

I fell in love with punk rock due to a couple of things. One, the music: My friend played me Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues by Strung Out and what I wanted to play and write on guitar finally made sense. Two, our punk rock scene in Ajax being accepting of who/whatever you are as long as you’re not hurting anyone. I had been involved in Metal for a few years and it wasn’t the most accepting or kind scene back then.

What: is one fad or trend from your youth that you’d like to see make a comeback or one that you wish would stay away forever? 

DB: If you or anyone you know is a musical gatekeeper, please help them with fucking off. 

When: was that moment you knew you wanted to pursue music full-time as a career? 

DB: I don’t know if I ever committed to more than dreaming of a career in music. It was more along the lines of me putting my head down [and] focusing on something; I lifted up my head and found out all that hard work that turned into a career. I don’t remember ever having an “I’m gonna make it…” moment. 

Where: would you like to see this scene grow in the next 5-10 years?

DB: In my old age, all I want is for young bands to have success because it’s a great feeling. I would love to see more innovation and acceptance of that innovation. When I hear people my age saying things like, “The 2000s was the last moment before music turned to shit,” I want to slap the fucking dentures out of their mouths. 

Why: do you think festivals like WWWY are important for the next generation of emo fans?

DB: For one WWWYF gives a huge stage to bands in a country that can treat musicians in a “here today gone tomorrow” fashion, that is so important. To be able to see three to four generations of punk rock and emo in one show is reminiscent of my days going to Warped Tours and daydreaming of being able to play as well as El Hefé [of NOFX]. It’s like a one stop shop for inspiring and growing the next punk rock/emo crop.

Magnolia Park

Who: was “that” band or artist that got you into this scene and why were they so influential?

Freddie Criales: "That" band was Blink-182. I think they were influential to me at the time because they were funny and the riffs were catchy.

What: is one fad or trend from your youth that you’d like to see make a comeback or one that you wish would stay away forever? 

Vincent Ernst: I would love it if cellphones were being used like they were in 2009 to just call each other and make plans instead of consuming everyone’s time for no reason.  

When: was that moment you knew you wanted to pursue music full-time as a career? 

VE: There was no definitive point but my father is a massive vinyl collector and always played a lot of music in the house when I grew up such as Metallica, Miles Davis, James Taylor among many others. In my mind I was always imagining songs, it always seemed like an obvious path.

Where: would you like to see this scene grow in the next 5-10 years?

FC: I would like the scene to grow into a place that is free from racism, misogyny, sexism, homophobia and transphobia. I think it's slowly happening. Hopefully we can get to that place.

Why: do you think festivals like WWWY are important for the next generation of emo fans?

FC: I think it helps bring awareness of the genre because it's such a big fest. And people talk about it alot online. So just the name itself will hopefully make the next gen of emo fans just wanna look up the bands, whether or not they are able to go.

TONY HAWK: 

Who: was “that” band or artist that got you into this scene?

I think the band that got me into the punk scene, the first one I heard that I truly identified with, was Devo. The song was Gates of Steel. 

Why were they so influential? 

I heard it at the skatepark when I was just falling in love with skating and something about it spoke to me and then my life has been centered around punk music ever since.

What: is one fad or trend from your youth that you’d like to see make a comeback or one that you wish would stay away forever?

The trend in my youth that I’d like to see make a comeback is kind of already making a comeback - long bangs. The big flop... like over one eye. That’s still around, I feel like it just endured but maybe we need more of it. If there’s one thing I say we could’ve done without, half shirts. There was a window but it wasn’t a good look. 

Skating at a music festival must be a pretty cool and unique experience. Where is the absolute coolest place that you’ve ever had the chance to skate at?

It’s really fun skating here at a festival like this because we are so closely aligned with these types of bands and this scene, and the audience especially. But I’ve gotten to skate some pretty cool stuff through the years. I would say probably the most – I don’t know if it’s one of my favorites, and the one that I almost got in the most trouble for, was skating through the White House. Let’s just say I didn’t have permission.

Why do you think this kind of music and skateboarding go so well together?

I think this kind of music and skateboarding go well together because they’re both very DIY kind of attitudes and there is so much energy and heart in the music and the skating. It’s just like those energies are very parallel. 

Aside from Goldfinger obviously, which other acts today are you excited to see?

Of course I’m excited about the headliners Blink-182 and Green Day. But I like Say Anything, MxPx, Offspring; I think they’re all gonna kill it. [There’s a] special place in my heart for Goldfinger and I might be on stage. 

What are three tracks currently on your skateboarding playlist?

Three tracks currently on my skateboarding playlist would be: Gang of Four - I Find That Essence Rare, The Clash - Stay Free, and Buzzcocks - Harmony In My Head. 

Any last words?

Go skate! Do a kickflip!

A huge thank you to When We Were Young Fest for having us, and thank you to Citizen, Sum 41, Magnolia Park, and Tony Hawk for taking the time to chat. Be sure to check out our photo gallery from this year here and follow us  for details on next year!