Hawthorne Heights continued their celebration of the 20th anniversary of If Only You Were Lonely, bringing the nostalgia to AURA in Portland, ME.
Hawthorne Heights kicked off The Lonely World Tour earlier this year in March, with letlive. and Creeper joining as support. With the pop-punk and emo scene experiencing a massive resurgence, fueled in part by the return of Vans Warped Tour in 2025, Hawthorne Heights has remained an active force in keeping the music and the scene alive. Rather than simply riding the wave of nostalgia, the band has played a significant role in keeping the genre relevant for longtime fans while introducing it to a new generation.
Aura in Portland, Maine, is one of those venues where there really isn’t a bad spot in the house. The intimate general admission floor puts fans right in the middle of the action, while the second level offers a nearly 360-degree view of the stage. It’s the perfect setup for fans who want to throw down in the pit and those who would rather take in the show from the comfort of their seats above. Whether you’re in the thick of the crowd or watching from the balcony, Aura offers an up-close concert experience that makes a show like this even better.
For this particular night, there was no designated photo pit, meaning the barricade was pushed right up against the stage. With nothing separating the fans from the action, those lucky enough to snag a spot along the rail were treated to an incredibly intimate, up-close-and-personal experience.
Creeper was up first. Hailing from Southampton, England, the band was a long way from home, but you never would have guessed it from the crowd’s reaction. Fans throughout Aura were singing along, making it clear that Creeper had plenty of support waiting for them on this side of the Atlantic.
The band kicked off their six-song set with “A Shadow Stirs (Featuring Patricia Morrison)” from their 2025 album Sanguivore II: Mistress of Death. The dark, theatrical opener immediately set the tone for the performance, giving those unfamiliar with Creeper a taste of the band’s signature blend of gothic rock, horror punk, and dramatic storytelling.
The band’s theatrical stage presence is reminiscent of Black Veil Brides, which isn’t surprising considering the two bands have shared the stage in the past. There’s a heavy influence of ’80s gothic rock woven into their sound, with undertones of AFI , some Meat Loaf and even Ghost. Their earlier material, particularly their 2017 album Eternity, in Your Arms, leans more heavily into punk rock with a Danzig-like edge.
VIDEO FROM CREEPER
What makes Creeper so interesting is how effortlessly they pull from so many different genres without being confined to just one. Their music is a melting pot of influences, making it difficult to pin them down to a single comparison. Depending on what you grew up listening to, you might hear something completely different from the person standing next to you. It’s that unique combination of sounds that gives Creeper their own identity while connecting with fans across multiple genres.
VIDEO FROM CREEPER
Creeper’s set drew exclusively from their two most recent albums, 2025’s Sanguivore II: Mistress of Death and 2023’s Sanguivore, immersing the audience in not only the music but also the dark, theatrical visuals the band brought to the stage. Hannah Greenwood’s haunting vocals added another layer of depth to the performance, beautifully complementing Will Gould’s powerful delivery. The contrast between their voices created a dynamic that elevated the band’s gothic atmosphere, bringing an almost cinematic quality to the music and making the performance feel like a story unfolding on stage.
CREEPER AT AURA IN PORTLAND MAINE 10/23/2026 SETLIST
INTRO: A Shadow Stirs (Featuring Patricia Morrison)
1. Mistress of Death
2. Lovers Led Astray
3. Headstones
4. The Ballad of Spook & Mercy
5. Parasite
6. Cry to Heaven
Next up was letlive. The Los Angeles-based band, known for its explosive blend of post-hardcore, punk rock, and soul, is a force that truly needs to be experienced live. There is an energy that ignites the moment they step on stage, building and intensifying with every song as the set continues.
Led by frontman Jason Aalon Butler, letlive. emerged in the early 2000s, carving out a name for themselves with their raw intensity and unpredictable live performances. The band disbanded in 2017, with Butler going on to form Fever 333.
In 2025, letlive. reunited, making an unforgettable appearance at the 30th anniversary return of Vans Warped Tour at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The performance was nothing short of iconic, with Butler scaling the massive speaker towers that loomed over the festival grounds, delivering the kind of jaw-dropping chaos and energy that has made letlive. such a captivating live act. They have continued showing up to many of the Warped Tour Dates for both 2025 and 2026, leaving an unforgettable performance every time.
VIDEO FROM LETLIVE.
That unpredictable energy has become a staple of letlive.’s live performances, and their set at Aura was no exception. The band kicked things off with “Le Prologue” from their 2011 album Fake History, a track that slowly builds intensity, creating a sense of tension before exploding into a full-on onslaught of raw energy. Drawing on themes of resistance, questioning authority, and challenging the societal mindset ingrained in American culture, the song serves as a powerful introduction to what follows. Rather than allowing that energy to dissipate, the band transitioned directly into “The Sick, Sick, 6.8 Billion,” and Renegade 86′ carrying the momentum of the opener into an even more explosive performance. The intensity continues to build as Butler shifts between raw, aggressive growls and soaring melodic vocals, creating a contrast between chaos and harmony that defines letlive.’s sound. The seamless transition between the two tracks makes them feel like one continuous explosion of energy rather than two separate songs.
VIDEO FROM LETLIVE.
Butler took a moment to address the crowd, acknowledging that while we may not all agree on everything, there are basic human rights, like access to healthcare, that we should be able to find common ground on. It was a powerful moment of unity, reinforcing the idea that despite our differences, there is more that connects us than divides us. With that message still resonating throughout the room, the band launched into “White America’s Beautiful Black Market,” bringing the intensity right back to the stage.
A beautiful moment came with “Muther,” as Butler spoke about learning to embrace vulnerability rather than burying anger and emotions deep inside. He reflected on the importance of allowing ourselves to feel those emotions instead of suppressing them, reminding the crowd that there is strength in being vulnerable. It was a powerful contrast to the raw, chaotic energy that had filled the room throughout the set, revealing the deeply emotional side of letlive. that makes their music resonate with so many.
VIDEO FROM EPITAPH RECORDS
The set wrapped up in true letlive. fashion with “27 Club.” Never one to be confined by the traditional boundaries of a stage, Butler made his way into the crowd, blurring the line between performer and audience. It was one final burst of the unpredictable, chaotic energy that has become synonymous with letlive.’s live performances, leaving the crowd with a reminder that a letlive. show is an experience you have to have firsthand.
LETLIVE. AT AURA IN PORTLAND MAINE 10/23/2026 SETLIST
1. Le Prologue
2. The Sick, Sick, 6.8 Billion
3. Renegade 86′
4. White America’s Beautiful Black Market
5. Another Offensive Song
6. Banshee (Ghost Fame)
7. Muther
8. Good Mourning, America
9. 27 Club
After a full-on thrashing of chaos from letlive., it was time for Hawthorne Heights to take the stage. The band is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their acclaimed 2006 album, If Only You Were Lonely. The anniversary tour has taken Hawthorne Heights around the world, with stops at major festivals, including playing a significant role in the resurgence of Vans Warped Tour.
Formed in Dayton, Ohio, in 2001, Hawthorne Heights emerged as one of the defining bands of the early 2000s emo and post-hardcore movement. Blending emotionally charged lyrics with melodic hooks and the raw intensity of post-hardcore, the band helped shape a sound that would resonate with an entire generation of music fans.
The band kicked off their set with the sound of a telephone being dialed, accompanied by an eerie combination of audio from The Twilight Zone and Halloween, creating a nostalgic atmosphere before diving straight into If Only You Were Lonely with “This Is Who You Are.”
The crowd, already riding the wave of energy left behind by letlive., somehow found another notch to crank up the intensity. As the song reached its softer break midway through, frontman JT Woodruff began clapping along, prompting hundreds of hands to rise into the air as the audience joined in, singing at the top of their lungs.
For some, it was a chance to relive the music and memories of their younger years. For others, it was their first opportunity to experience that same energy firsthand. Regardless of which generation they belonged to, everyone in the room was sharing that moment together.
VIDEO FROM KISSFAN409
The night rolled on with Hawthorne Heights performing If Only You Were Lonely in its entirety, from front to back. Carrying forward the message of unity and togetherness that letlive. had emphasized earlier in the evening, frontman JT Woodruff reminded the crowd that, for the hour they were together in that room, everything happening outside those walls could wait. It was a chance to leave the negativity behind, come together, and find common ground in something everyone could appreciate: the music. It was a message Woodruff continued to reinforce throughout the night.
The band took fans on a nostalgic journey through the album, from the high-energy intensity of “Saying Sorry” to the softer, melodic moments of “Decembers.” Throughout the room, fans closed their eyes, sang their hearts out, and moved along with the music. For many, these were songs that had been part of their lives for twenty years, and judging by the crowd’s reaction, they still carried just as much meaning today as they did when they were first released.
VIDEO FROM HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS
But the tour isn’t just about riding the coattails of their earlier success. Over the past two decades, Hawthorne Heights has continued to tour extensively while consistently creating new music. Their latest single, “Carry Me,” released on October 30th, takes everything fans have come to know and love about Hawthorne Heights and builds upon it with two decades of experience, musical growth, and maturity. The track maintains the band’s signature emotionally charged sound while showcasing how they’ve continued to evolve without losing the identity that made them a staple of the emo and post-hardcore scene.
VIDEO FROM HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS
Beyond the anniversary celebration of If Only You Were Lonely, Hawthorne Heights drew from other chapters of their discography, treating fans to “Bring You Back,” “Dandelions,” “Niki FM,” and the newer “Like a Cardinal,”
VIDEO FROM HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS
As the night drew to a close, JT Woodruff paused to thank the crowd, reflecting on how much fun the band had been having on tour and joking about how much nicer it was to visit Maine in the fall rather than endure the frigid Portland winters.
He also took a moment to explain why Creeper and letlive. were such a perfect fit for the tour, despite each band bringing a completely different sound to the stage. Woodruff described how each represented a different side of emo music, with Creeper embodying the darkness within, letlive. representing the chaos of the mind and heart, and Hawthorne Heights simply being along for the ride. It was a beautiful way to tie together three very different bands, showing how music can connect people through shared emotions and experiences, regardless of how differently those feelings are expressed.
Before launching into the band’s iconic anthem, “Ohio Is for Lovers,” from their 2004 debut album, The Silence in Black and White, Woodruff reminded the crowd just how much the song belonged to them.
“This song is more yours than ours, but do us a favor and sing along as loud as you can.”
VIDEO FROM KISSFAN409
And with that, the crowd took the lead, their voices nearly overpowering the amps as, for a moment, many were transported back to their days as the emo and scene kids of the early 2000s. Crowd surfers made their way toward the stage, mosh pits opened up, and the entire room erupted with energy. It was one final release of emotion, nostalgia, and pure excitement. For those few minutes, it didn’t matter how much time had passed or how much life had changed. They were those same kids again, screaming every word to a song that had been part of their lives for more than two decades. It was the perfect ending to a night that reminded everyone why this music still matters.
Hawthorne Heights, letlive., and Creeper continue touring through the end of November. For anyone who grew up in the emo and scene era, this tour feels like a much-needed hug from an old friend, a reminder of the music that got us through some of life’s hardest moments and the comfort of knowing that, even twenty years later, those songs still feel like home.
HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS AT AURA IN PORTLAND MAINE 10/23/2026 SETLIST
1. This Is Who We Are
2. We Are So Last Year
3. Language Lessons (Five Words or Less)
4. Pens and Needles
5. Saying Sorry
6. Dead in the Water
7. I Am on Your Side
8. Breathing in Sequence
9. Light Sleeper
10. Cross Me Off Your List
11. Where Can I Stab Myself in the Ears?
12. Decembers
Encore
13.Bring You Back
14. Dandelions
15. Niki FM
16. Like a Cardinal
17. Ohio Is for Lovers
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