Through Being Cool, San Diego’s Original Emo Night

Author: Stezz Glass

Ever pop in your favorite Cd from the good ol’ Emo days or create a nostalgically Emo playlist on your Spotify? We tend to have at least one friend who we can enjoy those songs and trips down memory lane with but where is the group celebration?! For most of us, this prime of emo music cultivated in junior or high school when blaring these tunes in your friends room while scrolling on your MySpace and adding your favorite song for the week as your profile song.  This was the thing to DO! That and when hanging out before and after school, co-listening to the emo jams by sharing an ear-bud of your Walkman with your bff (or if you were lucky enough to have an iPod or dare I mention…Zune).
If you could go to a intimate bar, grab a drink with some friends and accumulatively enjoy the night throwing the music back a decade and screaming emo lyrics, all together, at the top of your lungs, wouldn’t you?! What a dream for those of us on the conveyer belts of struggle that is millennial adulthood. To top of the experience they are not only playing music loud AF over the speakers but they always have the talented DJs like, Steven Oira of My American Heart, & Derek Hubbard blowing up the tunes and in sync with the music cravings of the crowd. 
At Blonde Bar in San Diego you can experience a fun rotation of themed music nights. If you are in San Diego area or planning to visit any time soon you HAVE to check out their event calendar at www.BlondeBarSD.com

On March 31st, Amaya Lightsjoined the fun and kicked off the night with an epic performance of nostalgic proportions! They started their 10-piece song set with The Used’s “Take it Away” from their 2004 “In Love And Death Album”.  They mixed their Amaya Lightsoriginals with grand renditions of songs by: The Used, Story of the Year, , Underoath and Linkin Park!! 
It was such an experience that pumped life into your emotional veins, to hear these songs being played live right in front of you again!! I myself, unashamed was yelling the lyrics to most songs at the very top of my lungs and it was cathartic to share those moments with everyone in the room of The Blond Bar in San Diego. Singer of Amaya LightsFreddy, explained, "In the process of recording our EP and planning to tour in the summer. All the songs we covered were from bands that inspired me to play music and have helped me out through lots of tough times. If we could do an ‘Emo Nite’ tour I'd be in heaven, sing-alongs to your favorite bands, there is no greater feeling!".

​After the rush of the show, the DJs swept in the songs of our memories while I got to check in with the band on their feelings on the “Through Being Cool, San Diego’s Original Emo Night“ show.  This night in particular focused on Emo of the Screamo, Hardcore, and Post Hardcore region (some other nights will focus on other emo sub genres, like indie and pop-punk, always a lil something for everyone). 
Amaya LightsDrummer, Hutton expressed in excitement that, “TBC was a blast!! Being able to perform covers and originals to a rowdy crowd that loves that style of music as much as we do is so much fun! The ebb and flow of energy from the stage to the crowd and back again all night was fantastic! What a fun night, I look forward to more in the future!”. Harlan, Bass player of Amaya Lightschimed in with, "I had so much fun playing TBC at Blonde Bar.
It felt great seeing the crowd sing and dance along to the covers and originals we performed. I certainly look forward to another ‘emo night’."
Check out photos of the night and their full set list below!