CHIODOS, HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS, EMMURE & BIG ASS TRUCK
PHOTOS AND REVIEW BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS
The Virginia Beach show was a real throwback, stacked with bands that defined mid-2000s emo and hardcore. Big Ass Truck opened the night, and though they’re less known than the headliners, they brought a feral energy that set a raw tone for the evening. According to reviews, their frontman’s theatrical aggression and unpredictable stage presence made them an unexpected but effective opener. Then came Emmure, whose brutal, breakdown-heavy set was exactly what many in the crowd were there for. Their sound hasn’t softened — the distortion, the growls, the heaviness — it was all there. As one review put it, Emmure didn’t just warm up the audience, they “scorched the earth.”Hawthorne Heights provided the emotional counterpoint. Their set was drenched in nostalgia, with shimmering guitars and signature melodic vocals. Hearing songs like “Ohio Is for Lovers” in that room was a powerful moment for longtime fans. Their presence helped bridge the heavier opening acts to Chiodos’ emotionally complex headliner.
When Chiodos finally hit the stage, it felt like a homecoming. They played All’s Well That Ends Well in its entirety, and Craig Owens’ vocals carried the full emotional weight of the record — from anguished screams to delicate, haunting melodies. His voice, even after 20 years, still holds that mix of theatrical intensity and vulnerable heart.
This Virginia Beach stop on the All’s Well That Ends Well anniversary tour was a powerful, emotional evening. Between Big Ass Truck’s raw energy, Emmure’s crushing heaviness, Hawthorne Heights’ emo heart, and Chiodos’ full-album performance, it felt like a carefully curated journey through two decades of post-hardcore and emo.For fans who grew up on All’s Well That Ends Well, this show was likely more than just a concert — it was a chance to reconnect with their younger selves, but in a space where they’ve all matured and yet still feel that same intensity.
