On November 1, 2026, Hawthorne Heights took the stage at Charleston Music Hall, joined by special guests Creeper and letlive for a night that was about so much more than just the music. During sets there were speeches and messages that I think many of us needed to hear. In a world that feels increasingly chaotic, divided, and consumed by people turning against one another, nights like these serve as a reminder of what brings us together. For a few hours, none of the outside noise matters. We are simply a room full of people connected by the same thing: music.
I also had the pleasure of photographing alongside one of my friends, Bailey, which made the evening even more special. I got to catch up with another friend, Tom, who works behind the bar during events at the venue. Being able to share a few conversations, see familiar faces, and watch the people around me find happiness in their own lives is something I genuinely appreciate. Sometimes, it’s those little moments between everything else that make a night memorable. I had been looking forward to this show for quite some time, and I was excited to finally be there. Although, I will admit, being an elder emo comes with its own challenges. My bedtime is realistically around 9 p.m., and staying awake for an entire night of live music is becoming an accomplishment in itself. But for this lineup, I was more than willing to push past my usual bedtime. There is something special about being surrounded by people who grew up loving the same music, sharing the same emotions, and finding pieces of themselves in the songs that have followed them through the years.
At the end of the night, it wasn’t just about photographing three incredible bands. It was about friendship, familiar faces, shared experiences, and being reminded that even when the world feels like it’s falling apart, music still has a way of bringing us back together. And honestly, that’s something I hope we never lose.
The first band to take the stage was Creeper, a band I had never listened to before that evening. Despite being unfamiliar with their music, I quickly found myself drawn into their performance. Their set was incredibly cathartic, theatrical, and full of emotion, creating an atmosphere that was just as captivating to watch as it was to experience. One of the biggest challenges of the set, at least from a photography standpoint, was the amount of smoke coming from the fog machines. It seemed to engulf the entire stage, often swallowing the musicians in a thick cloud and making it incredibly difficult to capture clear photographs. Eventually, I realized I needed to stop worrying so much about getting the perfect shot and focus more on what was happening in front of me. Sometimes, the best part of covering a show is putting the camera down mentally and allowing yourself to take in the performance.
What surprised me most was seeing just how deeply loved this band is by their fans. Along the barricade, I noticed fans who had recreated the musicians’ makeup, crying, screaming, and passionately singing along to every word. Even though I couldn’t recognize a single song, the emotion coming from the crowd made it impossible not to appreciate the connection Creeper has built with their audience. There was something incredibly special about watching people experience music that clearly means so much to them.
Instagram: @creepercult
TikTok: @creepercult
YouTube: Creeper Official
Facebook: Creeper Official
X (Twitter): @CreeperCult
Next up was Letlive, another band I had never listened to before, so I went into their set without any expectations of what was about to unfold. One thing I could have predicted, however, was the battle I would once again face with the fog machines. Just like the previous set, smoke covered nearly the entire stage, making it difficult to get clear photographs and forcing me to work around the ever-changing visibility.
But the real challenge of photographing Letlive wasn’t the smoke. It was trying to keep up with their vocalist. In the three years I’ve spent photographing live events, I can honestly say he was one of the most energetic, unpredictable, and downright chaotic performers I’ve witnessed on stage. There was never a dull moment. He was swinging the microphone around, tossing it into the air, throwing water into the crowd, dropping down to do push-ups, and seemingly doing just about anything else you could imagine. Watching him alone was enough to make my heart race. As a photographer, you had to stay completely alert because you never knew where he was going to end up next, and you certainly didn’t want to find yourself accidentally in the line of fire! What made the performance even more enjoyable was that the energy wasn’t limited to the vocalist. Every musician on stage brought their own presence to the performance, and you could genuinely feel how much they loved what they were doing. Their chemistry, enthusiasm, and connection with the crowd made the entire set incredibly engaging to watch.
Instagram: @letliveperiod
Facebook: letlive. Official
X (Twitter): @letliveperiod
YouTube: letlive. Official
Website: thisisletlive.com
Finally, it was time for Hawthorne Heights, and for many of us, especially the elder emos, this was the band we had been waiting for. This is one of those bands that takes you straight back to a different chapter of your life, bringing back memories of growing up, navigating heartbreak, and finding comfort in music when the world felt a little too heavy. Their music has always been about more than just catchy choruses and nostalgic lyrics. At its core, Hawthorne Heights has built a connection with its fans through vulnerability, mental health awareness, and the reminder that no matter what someone may be going through, they are loved, valued, and never truly alone.
Throughout the evening, the band delivered a set filled with the songs so many of us grew up listening to, including “Pens and Needles,” “Saying Sorry,” and “This Is Who We Are.” Hearing these songs live brought back a wave of nostalgia that was difficult to put into words. There is something incredibly powerful about standing in a room full of people who once found pieces of themselves in the same lyrics, now screaming those words together years later. For a moment, it felt like we were all transported back to the younger versions of ourselves who needed these songs just as much as we do today.
What made their performance especially meaningful was the emotion behind it. Hawthorne Heights has never shied away from conversations surrounding mental health, and that message felt particularly important throughout the night. Sometimes, life has a way of pulling us into the darkness. We become so consumed by everything happening around us that we forget there is still a little light worth holding onto. Music has a unique way of reminding us of that, and Hawthorne Heights has spent years creating a space where people can feel understood, accepted, and appreciated.
Instagram: @hawthorneheights
TikTok: @hawthorneheights
Facebook: Hawthorne Heights Official
X (Twitter): @HawthorneHgts
YouTube: Hawthorne Heights Official
Website: hawthorneheights.com
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