The Emo Social Club Podcast

"We've always had the same kind of values in why we're doing this. That alignment, I think, helps the steadiness and longevity... The music comes first. Music is about itself. It's not, at least primarily a means to make a living."    
Dustin Kensrue of Thrice on the shared values that have kept the band's lineup intact for 25 years. He discusses their unique writing process using Asana and 400+ voice memos, and how re-recording a classic album influenced their new sound.    
For over two decades, Thrice has been a constant—a pillar of the post-hardcore scene that has not only evolved with each album but has kept its original four members intact. We’re joined by frontman Dustin Kensrue to discuss how they’ve managed one of the most incredible feats in rock music: staying together. Dustin details the band's practical creative process, revealing how they use project management tools like Asana to organize hundreds of voice memos into the powerful songs fans know and love. He also explains how revisiting their classic album *The Artist in the Ambulance* allowed them to reconnect with old instincts in a fresh way, directly influencing their new material. This is a conversation about legacy, integrity, and what it takes to put the music first, always.
"We've always had the same kind of values in why we're doing this. And that alignment, I think, helps the steadiness and longevity... The music comes first."
"I have no idea how we would write a song to work on TikTok... it's just not on our minds. There's enough juice flowing... the hardest thing is narrowing down what ideas we wanna chase because there's so many."
"Doing both of those [re-recordings] was a process of kind of reintegrating a lot of old instincts and ways of thinking... those instincts can be reappropriated by us in a fresh way, that feels authentic and organic and not forced."

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

"I think we're one of the first bands that wasn't afraid of being called emo. We didn't try to tell people not to call us emo. We were actually trying to be an emo band."
We're live at Warped Tour Orlando with Buddy from Senses Fail! He dives into why the band always embraced being called emo and their early days on Drive-Thru Records, while also detailing their three unique sets for the Emo's Not Dead cruise.
Live from Warped Tour Orlando, we sit down with the legendary Buddy Nielsen of Senses Fail. Buddy reflects on the band's unique place in emo history, sharing why they were one of the few bands to proudly embrace the 'emo' title from the very beginning. He discusses their roots on the iconic pop punk label Drive-Thru Records and how influences like Finch and Jimmy Eat World shaped their sound. Looking ahead, Buddy gives us an exclusive preview of their ambitious plans for the Emo's Not Dead cruise, which includes three distinct sets: a jazz band called Martini Kiss, a set of their greatest hits, and a hardcore performance. Tune in for a deep dive into the legacy and future of one of the scene's most important bands.
HIGHLIGHTS:
"I think we're one of the first bands that wasn't afraid of being called emo. We didn't try to tell people not to call us emo. We were actually trying to be an emo band."
"All emo is real emo. Even the industry plan emos... There's a discussion to be had about what is good. But I think everybody should be allowed to throw their name in the hat."
"If you influenced an emo band, you might be emo, whether you like it or not. Jimmy Eat World, emo, huge influence on on me personally."
Guest/Band Links: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/467o5z7PYxbXFAGA0mvhAQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensesfail/
Official Website: https://www.sensesfail.com/
Tour Page: https://sensesfail.com/pages/tour

JOIN THE CLUB!
Youtube: https://emosocial.club/youtube
Instagram: https://emosocial.club/instagram
TikTok: https://emosocial.club/tiktok
Twitch: https://emosocialclub.tv
Discord: https://emosocial.club/discord
Facebook: https://emosocial.club/facebook
Twitter: https://emosocial.club/twitter

Support the Show:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify
Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it
Support us and watch exclusive episodes: https://emosocialclub.tv
It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

"We're not afraid of our coping mechanisms. And we're not afraid to be, shamelessly happy or shamelessly sad."
We caught up with Arrows In Action at Warped Tour in their home state of Florida. The band discusses what makes them emo, the power of coping with humor, and the influence of the Warped Tour scene on their sound. They also share their excitement for their dream tour with Boys Like Girls.
Live from Warped Tour Orlando, we sit down with Florida's own Arrows In Action. Coming full circle from attending the festival as kids to playing it themselves, the band reflects on the vibrant Florida pop punk scene and its place in emo history. They dive deep into what makes their music "emo," describing it as a state of mind built on coping mechanisms and the freedom to be shamelessly happy or sad. The band discusses how they blend humor with sincerity, touring with The Home Team, and how their sound fits into the diverse landscape of the modern scene. Plus, they share the incredible news of their upcoming dream tour supporting one of their biggest influences, Boys Like Girls, a milestone moment for the rising act.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:06 Warped Tour Memories
00:43 The Most Emo Song We're Listening To
Guest/Band Links:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/467o5z7PYxbXFAGA0mvhAQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arrowsinaction/
Official Website: https://arrowsinaction.com/

JOIN THE CLUB!
Youtube: https://emosocial.club/youtube
Instagram: https://emosocial.club/instagram
TikTok: https://emosocial.club/tiktok
Twitch: https://emosocialclub.tv
Discord: https://emosocial.club/discord
Facebook: https://emosocial.club/facebook
Twitter: https://emosocial.club/twitter

Support the Show:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify
Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it
Support us and watch exclusive episodes: https://emosocialclub.tv
It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

"I think all black and brown people across all industries and fields know that we always have to work 10 times harder to be met in the middle."
We're joined by rap rock pioneers Oxymorrons at Warped Tour. They get real about the challenges and pride of being Black artists in the alternative rock scene. The band also shares the creative freedom behind their latest independent album cycle.
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Live from Warped Tour, we sit down with the incomparable Oxymorrons. Hailing from Queens, NY, the band has consistently challenged the boundaries of the alternative scene by blending hip hop, rock, and punk into a sound that is uniquely their own. In this raw and honest conversation, they discuss the realities of being Black artists in a predominantly white space, touching on the concept that they must work ten times harder just to be met in the middle. They share powerful anecdotes about the pride they see in fans of color at shows, reinforcing why representation is more than just a buzzword. We also dive into the creative cycle behind their latest independent project, "create, destroy, rebuild, repeat," and what it means to make art without the pressures of commerce. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolution of the pop punk and emo history and the artists pushing it forward.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:20 The Most Emo Song We're Listening To
01:18 What Makes Oxymorrons Emo?
Guest/Band Links:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC74jCWaxaSUoBg-JwlBRThA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxymorrons/?hl=en
Official Website: https://oxymorrons.store/?srsltid=AfmBOopA7hsxp2ZkHkV9VwG0Ge19r6RPwgnKEkH79Qqas8DluzoECnQ9

JOIN THE CLUB!
Youtube: https://emosocial.club/youtube
Instagram: https://emosocial.club/instagram
TikTok: https://emosocial.club/tiktok
Twitch: https://emosocialclub.tv
Discord: https://emosocial.club/discord
Facebook: https://emosocial.club/facebook
Twitter: https://emosocial.club/twitter

Support the Show:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify
Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it
Support us and watch exclusive episodes: https://emosocialclub.tv
It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

Join Emo Social Club as we chat with Travis from Girlfriends about their record 'There Goes the Neighborhood,' nostalgic youth experiences, and the true meaning of emo in today's music scene. Discover how the band finds light at the end of the tunnel.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro: Girlfriends & Emo Night
01:05 Girlfriends' New Album: There Goes the Neighborhood
03:40 UK/Europe Tour with Kenny Hoopla & Warped Tour Magic
Guest/Band Links:
Spotify: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlfriends/?hl=en
Official Website: https://girlfriendsxo.com/

JOIN THE CLUB!
Youtube: https://emosocial.club/youtube
Instagram: https://emosocial.club/instagram
TikTok: https://emosocial.club/tiktok
Twitch: https://emosocialclub.tv
Discord: https://emosocial.club/discord
Facebook: https://emosocial.club/facebook
Twitter: https://emosocial.club/twitter

Support the Show:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify
Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it
Support us and watch exclusive episodes: https://emosocialclub.tv
It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.