It never was a phase! Niche party hosts T.J. Patrecca and Morgan Freed have been taking their Emo Nite parties worldwide for a decade. Their double-digit birthday had to be marked by a celebration that lives up to their gold standard. Emo Nite Weekend kicked off at the Echo/Echoplex on Dec 6, bringing the Nite Fam back to home base for a nostalgia-packed evening. It was a tried-and-true Emo Nite, with downstairs DJs playing the classics while bands raged on upstairs with live sets. Get Some Magazine was invited on behalf of BeatBox Beverages to scope out the scene, and I, for one, was thrilled to hang out with everyone I’ve ever known.

My evening began with a live set from Billy & The Kidz. These rockstars just moved to LA from Portland and fit in like a glove. Billy’s authentic stage presence is marked by a lifetime studying performance art, finally cemented by finding her footing with her band. Their original songs are awesome, but her cover of “The Sharpest Lives” got me excited about the band’s future as bonified rockstars. It was so fun to sing along standing next to literally every single one of my friends. This set kicked everything off into high gear, a reminder of what it’s all about. I kept Billy’s performance in my back pocket all evening, holding everyone else to their standard.

DJ sets from Millionaires and Derek Sanders solidified the authentic “Emo Nite feeling.” Meredith Hurley, the newest Millionaire, used to host parties in Portland before making a more permanent home in the Emo Nite team. Seeing her DJ with Melissa Marie is always a great time. Despite their party girl aesthetic, Millionaires are more akin to the nice drunk girls you meet in the bathroom and never forget. There was something extra ooey and gooey about their set for the anniversary party.

Drinks poured throughout the night, but BeatBox was the most visibly present. My friend tried the new Orange Blast flavor and loved it, but my ultimate favorite has been the Pink Lemonade since it was a collaboration with Avril Lavigne. I’d give the Orange Blast flavor a solid 6.5/10. However, one thing about BeatBox is their mixed drinks are strong. You only really need one or two to get the party going. Otherwise, Prince St. Pizza catered the event; I didn’t try their Emo Nite slice, but tried their Brotege collab back in October, and it was awesome.

We spent a lot of the nite upstairs, since the lineup was crazy. Jutes had been mentioned throughout by a friend who’s a huge fan of his. I was previously unfamiliar with his music, but optimistic after my friend’s recommendation. Safe to say I wasn’t disappointed; Jutes offered a fresh take on the classic emo sound. Daring choices like his keep the scene alive. We spoke a bit after the set, and after learning about his story, I am even happier to call myself a new fan of Jutes’.

Finally, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus closed out the evening. They had been promoted as “a group you’ll never see in a venue this small again.” I believe that, as I cannot confidently say, the audience was more significant than 100 people. I’d seen DJ sets by these guys at Emo Nite before, knowing them as friendly and humble event guests. Still, I was thoroughly impressed by their live set. I mostly knew the hits but enjoyed the tracks I was unfamiliar with. Moreover, the crowd’s energy was contagious, with rowdy mosh pits and stage divers marking an energetic end to the first round of Emo Nite Weekend.