Emos of all ages gathered for a reimagination of the classics when The Spill Canvas and the Emo Orchestra visited Marquee Theatre this week. The evening began with Irish duo Greywind, performing acoustic versions of tracks from their latest album. The siblings’ energy was infectious and the audience quickly warmed up to their welcoming presence onstage. After an interlude, The Spill Canvas emerged, backed by the full force of the Emo Orchestra to launch into “All Hail the Heartbreaker” before beginning a set of emo staples. From Jimmy Eat World to My Chemical Romance to Yellowcard, the full spectrum of emo popularity was represented in their performance- and the stunning orchestral arrangements only enhanced the experience of such classic songs.
The final notes of “If It Means a Lot to You” triggered a short intermission while the band and ensemble reset, quickly rejoining the seated crowd for another series of songs from Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday and more. By this point, much of the crowd had leapt from their seats to sing along and revel in the reinterpretation of songs that have defined a generation of fans. The intro to Paramore’s “Misery Business” played on actual stringed instruments was a revelation, as Greywind singer Steph O’Sullivan joined The Spill Canvas to lend her vocals to the performance. In an era of endless Emo Nite events, karaoke and nostalgia, witnessing a new way to connect with these tracks definitely hit home with the Tempe audience. The night ended with The Spill Canvas’ own “All Over You”, sending the satisfied audience home smiling reminiscently as they meandered out of the Arizona theatre.
