Hawthorne Heights Brings Emo Nostalgia Poolside At The STRAT’s Swim & Social

Emo rock favorites Hawthorne Heights are returning to The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower’s Swim & Social for a cease on their tour on May 3. Fans can stay up for an unforgettable poolside efficiency crammed with nostalgia, vitality, and all of the hits, Vegas-style!

JT Woodruff, vocalist and guitarist for the band, had a while to speak with The Blast about how they received their begin in music, what’s modified all through their journey, what they love about visiting Las Vegas, and extra.

Hawthorne Heights, an American emo-rock band from Ohio, received their begin collectively in 2001 and are nonetheless going sturdy. They’re greatest identified for his or her emotional lyrics, hardcore sound, and taking part in a significant function within the 2000s emo scene. Their music blends heavy guitar riffs with screaming vocals and catchy hooks.

Woodruff shared slightly perception into how the group met and received their begin.

“We were all playing in local bands in the Dayton, Ohio music scene and just kind of eventually morphed together,” he instructed The Blast completely. “Back then, the internet wasn’t really a way to discover people or music, so it just happened by being in a lot of the same rooms together.”

He mentioned that he credit “hanging out at all night diners after local shows, sharing mutual friends, and finding the right team of people who wanted to hit the road and live in chaos” is the way it all started.

“Sometimes people enter your life forever, and sometimes it’s just more faces in the halls,” he continued. “But Dayton has always been our spot.”

Woodruff defined that one thing the group is most happy with is “how we have maintained our core musical values.”

“We love melody, reality, screaming, singing, loud guitars, and the beautiful blend of sandpaper and silk,” he shared. “We have never really wavered from that. We didn’t get too neon, never added a keyboard or banjos when the scene changed, we just remained Hawthorne Heights.”

He additionally defined that “aggression changes as you get older” naturally, so typically you scream and typically you do not.

“I think if you are trying to write true songs, about true life issues, your palette never really gets tired or stale,” he mentioned.

Their method to songwriting is a course of that is like a “tropical storm” within the sense that it by no means will get “too violent,” however fairly at all times finally turns into, “cloudy with a chance of sun.”

“Hawthorne Heights is weird, because three of us write songs in different ways. I am always trying to tell a story. Matt is always trying to find a groove. Mark is trying to write the next great guitar riff,” he defined. “One of the things that drive us is our ability to collaborate under extreme pressure. Sometimes it gets tense and chaotic, sometimes it flows like a gentle rain.”

The band has been touring the east coast however will quickly convey their present to Sin City for an evening of leisure at Swim & Social at The STRAT.

“First of all, we love Vegas. We steep ourselves in the full experience by doing everything we can. We are card sharks, coffee drinking, and neon light junkies,” Woodruff instructed The Blast. “Being from Ohio, there is still some magic left out there for us. It doesn’t really get any better than playing by a pool deck, at a world class casino.”

Hawthorne Heights is worked up to as soon as once more carry out in Sin City, in addition to hit the tables for some enjoyable playing whereas visiting.

“We are super excited to help The Strat launch their live musical adventures, in what seems like a fever dream.  We will be playing hits, swimming, and hitting the tables,” he mentioned. “We might actually stay out late for this! We are stoked to be in Las Vegas, at The Strat, and living the dream. See you at the pool.”

After this tour is accomplished, the band has some large plans.

“2026 will be a big anniversary year for us, so we are spending 2025 writing and recording new music,” Woodruff mentioned. “We are finishing up a full USA tour with Chiodos right now, so we have scratched the itch. Festivals are always on the horizon, especially Warped Tour. Fun times abound.”

Not solely are they acting at Swim & Social, however followers can even have the chance to hitch the band for an thrilling night time of desk video games after which head to REMIX Lounge to maintain the emo occasion going sturdy into the night time.

While visiting Vegas, the band have just a few spots which might be a should for them.

“We have MANY spots. NOBU is a banger. Our favorite coffee is Mothership. Traveling into the desert to see all of the reds and golds is always on the schedule,” Woodruff shared. “We love The STRAT, Golden Nugget, Flamingo, the classics. The punk rocker in us still hits the In-N-Out Burger late at night, along with the Punk Rock Museum.”

When requested what’s one factor they might like to do whereas visiting Sin City however have not been capable of but, Woodruff’s reply was much like many others who go to. “We still haven’t been able to get a reservation at The Golden Steer,” he mentioned. (For reference, The Blast has a reservation there in late August that was made in February. Many individuals e-book their reservation after which plan their go to to Vegas round it.)

 As far as what playing the blokes take pleasure in when in Vegas, they every have their favorites.