midwest emo

{{Infobox music genre

| name = Midwest emo

| native_name =

| etymology =

| stylistic_origins = {{hlist|Emo|indie rock|math rock}}

| cultural_origins = 1990s, Midwestern United States

| instruments = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|bass|drums}}

| derivatives = Emo revival

| subgenres =

| fusiongenres =

| regional_scenes =

| local_scenes =

| other_topics = {{hlist|Post-rock|post-hardcore}}

| other_names = Midwestern emo

| image =

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}}

Midwest emo (or Midwestern emo) is an emo scene and/or subgenre{{Cite web|url=https://fansided.com/2018/08/15/fourth-wave-emo-revival-bands-tours-definition-music-songs/|title = In its fourth wave, emo is revived and thriving|date = 15 August 2018}} that developed in the 1990s Midwestern United States. Employing unconventional vocal stylings, distinct guitar riffs and arpeggiated melodies,{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/55053/Funeral-Advantage-Demo/|title=Funeral Advantage – Demo (staff review)|work=Sputnikmusic|date= February 14, 2013|access-date=July 5, 2017|last=Lowe|first=Robert}} Midwest emo bands shifted away from the genre's hardcore punk roots and drew on indie rock and math rock approaches.{{Cite web|url=http://feckingbahamas.com/history-math-rock-pt-1-guess-black-flag-math-rock-now|title = The History of Math Rock: Part One|date = 16 August 2015}} According to the author and critic Andy Greenwald, "this was the period when emo earned many, if not all, of the stereotypes that have lasted to this day: boy-driven, glasses-wearing, overly sensitive, overly brainy, chiming-guitar-driven college music."Greenwald, pp. 34–35. Midwest emo is sometimes used interchangeably with second-wave emo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/is_emo_revival_really_a_thing-64327|title = Is Emo Revival Really a Thing?}} Although implied by the name, Midwest emo does not solely refer to bands and artists from the Midwestern United States, and the style is played by outfits across the United States and internationally.{{Cite web|date=2016-10-20|title="We Pretty Much Whine About the Same Things": Emo in Asia|url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/scene-report/emo-in-asia-list|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Bandcamp Daily}}

Characteristics

According to The Chicago Reader critic Leor Galil, the second-wave bands of the Midwest emo scene "transformed the angular fury of D.C. emo into something malleable, melodic, and cathartic—its common features included cycling guitar parts, chugging bass lines, and unconventional singing that sounded like a sweet neighbor kid with no vocal training but plenty of heart."{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/emo-twiabp-topshelf-swerp-capn-jazz-midwestern-braid-reflex/Content?oid=10550897 | title=Midwestern emo catches its second wind |work= The Chicago Reader|date=August 5, 2013|access-date=July 5, 2017|last=Galil|first=Leor}}

Incorporating elements from indie rock, the genre also features "gloomy chord progressions"{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2017/02/08/fractures-time-frame|title=Melbourne Artist Fractures Channels Midwest Emo On "Time Frame"|work=The Fader|date=February 8, 2017|access-date=July 5, 2017|last=Perry|first=Cameron}} and arpeggiated guitar melodies, which according to The Post, results in "a much less intense version of emo." Midwest emo is also commonly associated with the use of math rock elements, which were utilized by 1990s bands such as Sunny Day Real Estate and American Football to "create the backbone" of the subgenre.{{Cite web |title=Origins of Midwest emo |url=https://www.thepostathens.com/article/2023/09/origins-of-midwest-emo |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Origins of Midwest emo - The Post |language=en-US}} Texas Is the Reason guitarist Norman Brannon has stated that the 1993 albums The Problem with Me by Seam, In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi, and On the Mouth by Superchunk were particularly influential on the development of Midwest emo and have been "name-checked by every second-wave emo band I knew".{{Cite web |last=Brannon |first=Norman |date=May 6, 2015 |title=Norman Brannon (Texas Is the Reason) Talks Mac McCaughan's Non-Believers |url=https://www.talkhouse.com/norman-brannon-texas-is-the-reason-talks-mac-mccaughans-non-believers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929105808/https://www.talkhouse.com/norman-brannon-texas-is-the-reason-talks-mac-mccaughans-non-believers/ |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |access-date=June 13, 2023 |website=Talkhouse}} Post-hardcore band Jawbox also impacted the sound of Midwest emo, being cited as an influence by such bands as Braid, Elliott, and the Jazz June.{{Cite web |date=July 25, 2013 |title=BRAID |url=https://www.reggieslive.com/band/braid/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518145315/https://www.reggieslive.com/band/braid/ |archive-date=May 18, 2023 |access-date=April 2, 2024 |website=Reggies Chicago |quote=Braid started writing songs that combined the sounds of DC with those of the Bay Area. 'We would soak up and study pretty much anything on Dischord,' [Bob Nanna] says. 'Anytime any of those bands like—Fugazi, Nation of Ulysses, Shudder to Think, or Jawbox—came anywhere near Chicago, we were there.' In addition to the music, Nanna was obsessed with the energy that these bands expressed onstage. 'But Braid was also equal parts of music coming out of the Bay Area...'}}{{Cite web |date=December 2005 |title=Elliott 14/12/05 - Mail |url=https://www.metalorgie.com/interviews/133_Elliott_14-12-05-Mail |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216031219/https://www.metalorgie.com/interviews/133_Elliott_14-12-05-Mail |archive-date=February 16, 2024 |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=metalorgie.com |trans-quote=I think it is obvious and easily perceptible that our influences have evolved over the years and changes in line up. We moved from music incorporating post hardcore elements on US Songs (inspired by Quicksand, Jawbox, Sunny Day [Real Estate], etc.)...}}{{Cite web |last=Anderl |first=Timothy |date=September 16, 2013 |title=When The Drums Kick In…Again; an interview with Andrew and Bryan of The Jazz June |url=https://ghettoblastermagazine.com/features/special-report/when-the-drums-kick-in-again-and-interview-with-andrew-and-brian-of-the-jazz-june/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129070521/https://ghettoblastermagazine.com/features/special-report/when-the-drums-kick-in-again-and-interview-with-andrew-and-brian-of-the-jazz-june/ |archive-date=November 29, 2022 |access-date=July 4, 2024 |website=Ghettoblaster Magazine |quote=When I listen to the old Jazz June songs now I can hear elements from bands like Jawbox, Archers of Loaf and Superchunk that were direct influences on us.}}

The definable traits of the Midwest emo have proven to be easily fused with other genres of underground independent music. Revival bands including The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die mixed the Midwestern emo sound with genres such as post-rock and orchestral music.{{cite web|last=Cohen|first=Ian|date=April 29, 2014|title=Don't Call It an Emo Revival|url=http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/325-dont-call-it-an-emo-revival/|access-date=July 5, 2017|work=Pitchfork}} Other outfits, including Patterns Make Sunrise, The Pennikurvers, and Everyone Asked About You, introduced elements of twee pop and indie pop into the sound of Midwest emo.{{Cite web|title=Review: Everyone Asked About You – Everyone Asked About You {{!}} Sputnikmusic|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/51055/Everyone-Asked-About-You-Everyone-Asked-About-You/|access-date=2021-03-29|website=www.sputnikmusic.com}} This proved influential to the aforementioned Emo revival scene, with groups like Dowsing and Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) taking a similar approach.

Midwest emo has also been described as a "whole band potluck"{{cite web |last=Edge |first=Moth |date=4 October 2023 |title=Around the Pit: What is Midwest Emo? |url=https://www.scenepensacola.com/atp-what-is-midwest-emo/ |website=Scene Pensacola |publisher= |access-date=17 March 2025}} with several bands bringing in experimental sounds to develop the genre. The result is "a musical casserole of introspective lyrics, DIY sprinkles, and heartfelt garnishes that cooked up the signature Midwest Emo scene, where everyone brought their own instruments to the party".{{r|edge}} This style of shared sound and experimentation in the scene helped to develop the scene in the Midwest, where many alternative people{{who|date=March 2025}} feel there is a lack of culture.{{cite web |last=Mays |first=Duncan |date=6 November 2024 |title=Midwest Emo, Accidentally Filling the Gap in Midwest Culture Since the Mid-90s |url=https://www.purdueexponent.org/rivet/midwest-emo-punk-bands-culture-whirly-birds-northwest/article_6dd1132a-9c73-11ef-9dc7-ebb8eb062c0d.html |website=The Purdue Exponent |publisher=Purdue University |location=West Lafayette, Indiana |access-date=17 March 2025}}

History

File:Capn-jazz.jpg

The Midwest emo scene came into prominence starting in the mid-1990s with bands such as American Football, Chamberlain,{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/fates-got-a-driver-mw0000099181 | title=Chamberlain – Fate's Got a Driver | work=AllMusic | access-date=July 5, 2017|last=Cohen|first=Jonathan}} the Promise Ring,{{cite web|url=http://www.gigwise.com/photos/109234/13-beautiful-photos-of-american-football-at-shepherds-bush-empire-11022017 | title=13 Beautiful Photos of American Football At Shepherd's Bush Empire, 11/02/2017 | work=Gigwise |access-date=July 5, 2017|last=Trefor|first=Cai}} Cap'n Jazz,{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2017/01/oliver-houston-whatever-works-album-stream/ | title=New Music: Oliver Houston Embrace Classic Midwestern Emo on Whatever Works| work=Spin|date=January 23, 2017 | access-date=July 5, 2017| last=Gaca|first=Anna}} Cursive,{{cite journal|last=Bruno|first=Franklin| title= Cursive – Domestica| journal=CMJ| page=56| issue=84|date= August 2000}} Rainer Maria,{{Cite web |last=Gwee |first=Karen |date=May 3, 2018 |title=An interview with Rainer Maria about their latest album S/T, Midwest emo and more |url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/rainer-maria-interview-singapore-midwest-emo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419174733/https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/rainer-maria-interview-singapore-midwest-emo |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |access-date=June 13, 2023 |website=Bandwagon}} Mineral and the Get Up Kids.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2013/08/09/on-mineral-and-midwestern-emos-second-wave | title=On Mineral and midwestern emo's second wave| work=The Chicago Reader | date=August 9, 2013 | access-date=July 5, 2017 | last=Raymer | first=Miles}} Braid has been regarded as an important act to propel the Midwest emo sound across the United States.{{cite web| url=http://www.chicagomag.com/arts-culture/October-2013/The-New-New-Chicago-Emo/ | title=Chicago Has a New Emo Rock Scene (Again) | work=Chicago|date=October 24, 2013|access-date=July 5, 2017|last=Osmon | first=Erin}}{{cite web| url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/braid-movie_music_vol_2 | title= Braid – Movie Music Vol. 2 | work=Exclaim! | date= March 1, 2000| access-date=July 5, 2017| last=Green | first=Stuart}} Some of the acts to practice the sound were originally not from the Midwestern United States, with Sunny Day Real Estate being from Washington and Mineral being from Texas.

Midwest emo saw a notable resurgence over the late 2000s and early 2010s with labels such as Count Your Lucky Stars Records,{{cite web| url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2014/07/22/333575106/song-premiere-empire-empire-i-was-a-lonely-estate-a-keepsake | title=Song Premiere: Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate), 'A Keepsake'|work=NPR|date= July 22, 2014|access-date=July 5, 2017 | author=Gotrich, Lars}} as well as by bands such as CSTVT, Oliver Houston, Camping in Alaska,{{cite web | title=Midwest Emo pioneers CAMPING IN ALASKA share top 10 influentian albums, new acoustic EP streaming | website=IDIOTEQ.com | date=31 October 2022 | url=https://idioteq.com/midwest-emo-pioneers-camping-in-alaska-share-top-10-influentian-albums-new-acoustic-ep-streaming/ | access-date=29 April 2024}} Into It. Over It.,{{cite web|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/article/r3e98r/i-went-to-high-school-with-the-leader-of-the-so-called-emo-revival | title=I Went to High School with the Leader of the So-Called Emo Revival | work=Noisey Vice | date=April 4, 2014 |access-date=July 5, 2017}} Algernon Cadwallader, Snowing, and Joie De Vivre.{{Cite web |date=2013-10-01 |title=12 Bands To Know From The Emo Revival |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1503252/12-bands-to-know-from-the-emo-revival/lists/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}

In the 2020s, Midwest emo became a meme on TikTok with videos parodying the genre's stylings. This includes the use of long naming schemes, relationships, and poor singing quality.{{Cite web |last=Galil |first=Leor |date=2024-03-20 |title=Midwest emo becomes a meme |url=http://chicagoreader.com/music/midwest-emo-tiktok-memes-fifth-wave/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=Chicago Reader |language=en-US}}

midwest emo

Characteristics

History

See also

References

Further reading