ALL EMO IS LOCAL: Five Scenes That Developed Organically
A reflection on America’s emo capitals by Liz Pelly for the Boston Phoenix’s February 10th Emo Issue
Part 3 of 6
CHICAGO + MILWAUKEE | EARLY TO MID ’90s | Before Brand New and Taking Back Sunday fans even knew what emo was, the Midwest experienced an emo explosion in the mid ’90s, mostly around Chicago and Milwaukee. Cap’n Jazz, Braid, and the Promise Ring all came out of the region during this time, gaining national attention. Chicago’s Jade Tree Records released seminal emo records by Lifetime, the Promise Ring, Cap’n Jazz, Jets to Brazil, Pedro the Lion, and, eventually, Alkaline Trio. Later, Fall Out Boy would form in Wilmette, Illinois, in 2001. Victory Records formed in Chicago in 1989, and over the years were responsible for key releases by Hawthorne Heights, Taking Back Sunday, Thursday, and others. [Read more.]
