Emo Nite is 10 years old, and they're known for pulling rabbits out of their hats on a normal day. It's no surprise that they did the absolute most to celebrate double-digit status. Formally known as "Taking Back Tuesday," Emo Nite began their festivities on Dec 7 at The Echoplex in LA, then hosted a carnival at the Hollywood Palladium the next day, and closed things off with Grave Rave at the Academy. The fan-first party featured familiar faces at every corner, with on-brand surprises at each turn. Performances by Jutes and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus kicked things into high gear on the first night, followed by DJ sets by Millionaires and Derek Sanders. On Sunday, Noelle Sucks opened the carnival-themed extravaganza with musical guests and circus freaks, all leading up to closing acts by 3OH!3 and Cobra Starship.

The first night did an incredible job at feeling like the "good old days." Emo Nite’s intimate events built up a strong community over the past decade and it was nice to return to that feeling, even if only for a brief moment. Friends gathered around and traveled from all over the world to be there. It was nothing short of a family reunion, with gorgeous energy aligning every corner of the small room. The special guest sets from Brian Logan Dales, Millionaires, and Derek Sanders felt exceptionally appropriate for the evening–their long-standing partnerships within the scene act as beacons of inspiration for everyone, while still humbly accepting the intimate environment of a small-scale Emo Nite.

Meanwhile, live performances by Billy & The Kidz, Dead American, Jutes, and The Red-Jumpsuit Apparatus ensured that the good vibes radiated throughout the whole venue. Plus, it was a solid reminder that Emo Nite’s main goal is to connect fans to new friends, and also to the artists that inspire them. I can confidently say that I will never see The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus in a venue that small ever again. This, paired with the fact that everyone that I knew was in that room, created a new kind of magic that I didn’t know was possible.I began my night upstairs, to see Billy & The Kidz. I was immediately greeted by every single person I have ever known, and for once, that was welcome sight. Billy’s set was amazing, with her high energy performance remaining a highlight of my entire weekend. Later, my friends and I played with some balloons with drunken strangers as we sang along to our favorite songs before we went back upstairs for Jutes. I had previously been unfamiliar with his music, but left as a fan. Sunday, I woke up, excited to go to the carnival. I knew that the theme would be on point, so I spent months prior carefully curating an outfit to match. I rushed to the Hollywood Palladium to make it to the opening act. It was a long day, but I trusted that Emo Nite had the foresight to keep all of us well fed for all eight hours of the festival. Noelle Sucks had incredible performance energy, with her introspective lyricism proving to be the perfect way to start the day at the circus. Though there were clowns all around me, I was not afraid because I knew my day would be filled with the great music and fond memories.

My friends and I spent a lot of time outside as the carnival attractions were everywhere on the Palladium grounds. They had everything, from a giant inflatable slide, to a tarot reader, to free games that were included with your ticket. The games were a little bit tricky, but it was a lot of fun to compete with your friends. I will say, some of the staff was less welcoming than others and it made the difficult to fully invest our precious festival time playing to win the big prizes. One guy told us we needed to “play 414 times” to take home a mascot plush.However, once back inside, we hunkered down for a performance by Royal And The Serpent. I've had the chance to see her twice before, but this was my favorite performance of hers by far. Her costume changes were some of the best I have ever seen, and she played both deep cuts and hits, allowing me to explore her discography more than previously before.

I decided to stay by the main stage so that I could get close for the headliners. Not only did I get to see the artists I loved growing up, but also the extremely talented performers in between sets. After Royal And The Serpent, Saosin performed a comprehensive and energetic set. I was surprised at how many of their songs I knew, but I was more impressed by the audience participation. There were some diehard fans present, and at one point, the band chose one specific fan to be held up by the crowd for an entire song. The most impressive carnival act to me was Saint Anique. I tend to be reserved around contortionists, but her performance left me in awe of the human body’s capabilities. I fully believe she eradicated my fear completely, instead replacing it with a staunch respect. Finally, the headliners showed up and out. It was my fourth time seeing both 3OH!3 and Cobra Starship this year, following the Cobra Starship reunion tour to its final stop. These legacy performers know how to smash it up; though both are known for party anthems, their masterful stage takeovers make them worthy of these big-top bills. The evening closed out as girls behind me swooned over Gabe Saporta’s perfect skin (it’s the Brotegé), and I looked up in awe, just happy to be there.Keep up with Emo Nite and future events here.