23 years and still emo: Hawthorne Heights at The Hall

Last Wednesday night at The Hall in Little Rock, AR, felt less like a standard concert and more like a big hangout for the local scene. Because it was the final night of the Lonely World Tour (Leg 1) with headliner Hawthorne Heights, the band and the crowd both seemed extra hyped.

The night kicked off with Creeper, setting a solid foundation before letlive. absolutely tore the roof off the place. From the jump, letlive. frontman Jason Aalon Butler proved he isn’t a “stay on the stage” kind of performer. He started the set directly in the crowd, mic chord trailing behind him as he immersed himself into the pit then up onto the stage.

The energy was relentless. By the end of their set, Butler and guitarist Jeff Sahyoun had migrated from the stage to the mezzanine, overlooking a sea of fans. In a moment of pure rock-and-roll theater, Butler spewed water into the air, raining down on himself and then onto a crowd that was already erupting.

Beyond the chaos, there was heart. Butler took a moment to introduce a song with a powerful tribute to his mother, crediting her for teaching him how to be a good man. His plea for the men in the room to be honest and truly listen to women sparked a loud roar. It was a rare, genuine moment of connection that resonated deeply with the crowd.

When Hawthorne Heights finally took the stage, the vibe shifted from chaotic energy to profound gratitude. Despite their “Emo Royalty” status, the band arrived with a striking humility. Frontman JT Woodruff reflected on their staggering 23-year career, noting they’ve never stopped touring and hope to keep the momentum for at least another 23 years.

As this was the final stop of the tour’s first leg, there was a sense of celebration in every chord. The band leaned heavily into the nostalgia, ripping through 17 “old bangers” (as JT put it) that had the entire room screaming along. Of course, they saved the quintessential anthem “Ohio Is For Lovers” for second to last, sending the room back to 2004.

After that, Woodruff said that they had played many of their old songs and asked if they could play a new one. The crowd’s response was electric, proving that while fans love the history, they are still very much invested in the band’s future.

As the lights came up, JT left the crowd with some relatable parting wisdom: go grab some Taco Bell. It was the perfect, low-key end to an emotional night. For those looking to take a piece of the magic home, the band announced a limited run of 30 signed vinyls at the merch table, a final thank you to a city that clearly showed them a lot of love.

If this was just Leg 1, the rest of the world better be ready. Hawthorne Heights is here to stay.

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Leg 2 of the Lonely World Tour will continue the 20th-anniversary celebration. Tickets for leg 2 are still available and can be found here.

Remaining Hawthorne Heights Tour Dates:
04/17/26 – Double Whammy – Auckland, New Zealand
04/18/26 – San Fran – Wellington, New Zealand
04/22/26 – Magnet House – Perth, Australia
04/24/26 – The Gov – Adelaide, Australia
04/25/26 – The Croxton Bandroom – Melbourne, Australia
04/26/26 – Manning Bar – Sydney, Australia
04/28/26 – The Brightside – Brisbane, Australia
05/01/26 – Capitol Theatre – Singapore
05/02/26 – RockOn Festival – Selangor, Malaysia
05/05/26 – Speakerbox Livehouse – Bangkok, Thailand
05/06/26 – SM Skydome – Manila, Philippines
05/08/26 – Yogibo Meta Valley – Osaka, Japan
05/10/26 – Reny Alpha Akabane – Tokyo, Japan
05/11/26 – Reny Alpha Akabane – Tokyo, Japan
05/14/26 – Sonic Temple Festival – Columbus, OH
05/20/26 – The Grand Social – Dublin, Ireland
05/21/26 – Voodoo – Belfast, UK
05/23/26 – Slam Dunk Festival – Hatfield, England
05/24/26 – Slam Dunk North – Leeds, UK
05/25/26 – The Dome – London, England
05/26/26 – Backstage BTM – Paris, France
05/27/26 – Db’s – Utrecht, Netherlands
05/28/26 – Kavka Zappa – Antwerp, Belgium
05/29/26 – Slam Dunk Germany – Oberhausen, Germany
05/30/26 – Noise and Needles Fest – Cologne, Germany
05/31/26 – Feierwerk – Munich, Germany
06/01/26 – Slam Dunk Italy – Milan, Italy
06/11/26 – Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races – Charles Town, WV
06/13/26 – Vans Warped Tour – Washington, DC
06/20/26 – Roxx Fest – Portage, IN
07/23/26 – Pappy + Harriet’s – Pioneertown, CA
07/24/26 – Pappy + Harriet’s – Pioneertown, CA
07/25/26 – Vans Warped Tour – Long Beach, CA
09/12/26 – Vans Warped Tour – Mexico City, Mexico
10/01/26 – Aftershock Festival 2026 – Sacramento, CA
10/21/26 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY
10/22/26 – House of Blues – Boston, MA
10/23/26 – Aura – Portland, ME
10/24/26 – Irving Plaza – New York, NY
10/25/26 – Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ
10/27/26 – Brooklyn Bowl Philly – Philadelphia, PA
10/30/26 – Elevation 27 – Virginia Beach, VA
10/31/26 – The Underground – Charlotte, NC
11/01/26 – Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, SC
11/03/26 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
11/04/26 – Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, KY
11/05/26 – Cannery Hall – Nashville, TN
11/06/26 – Heaven at The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
11/07/26 – Iron City Bham – Birmingham, AL
11/08/26 – House of Blues – New Orleans, LA
11/10/26 – Vinyl Music Hall – Pensacola, FL
11/12/26 – Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL
11/13/26 – Revolution Live – Fort Lauderdale, FL
11/14/26 – Vans Warped Tour – Orlando, FL
11/17/26 – The Vogue Theatre – Indianapolis, IN
11/20/26 – Clyde Theatre – Fort Wayne, IN
11/21/26 – Elevation @ The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI
11/22/26 – Saint Andrew’s Hall – Detroit, MI
11/23/26 – Warehouse on Broadway – Kansas City, MO
11/24/26 – The Vanguard – Tulsa, OK
11/25/26 – The Hawthorn – St. Louis, MO
01/22/27 – Emo’s Not Dead Cruise – Miami, FL