camping in alaska: a concert to remember

I didn’t go into this show as a huge fan of Camping in Alaska.

I had listened to them before and liked what I heard, but I wouldn’t have called myself a “fan.” I mostly went because my friend, who is a huge fan, had an extra ticket and invited me a few months ago. I love live music and going to shows, so it was an easy yes.

Somewhere along the way, though, my fan status completely changed.

The show was in the back room of Cat’s Cradle, which is always the perfect space for something like this. It’s small enough that everything feels close and personal, but big enough for the energy to actually build. Even before the first band went on, the room already felt alive in the special way emo shows do. People weren’t just there to see Camping in Alaska; they were there to be part of something larger.

The opener, Gol Omímpico, wasn't originally advertised on the bill, but ended up being one of the best surprises of the entire show. I didn’t catch the names of any of the songs they played, which is kind of insane and quite sad looking back, but their last song was one I don’t think I’ll forget.

It was one of the most beautiful screamo songs I’ve ever heard live. The lead singer had this clear, devastating scream that somehow felt both controlled and emotionally charged at once. That, paired with a softer guitar and the other vocalist, his wife, created something that felt transcendent. After they played, others and I talked about shedding a tear or two. That’s the kind of experience that keeps me coming back to live music. Also, during their set, the entire band of Camping in Alaska was just standing up in the balcony with the rest of us, watching. I didn’t realize it until after, but my friend was quietly freaking out the whole time.

Image Credits: Sarah Jackson

Stella went on next and immediately shifted the energy. The second they came out, the lead singer and guitarist jumped up high and landed right on the first strum of his guitar. That set the tone for everything that followed. Their sound leaned more toward classic emo and punk, and the crowd responded instantly. People were crowd-surfing, stage-diving, and just fully letting go. At one point, the sound guy told people to stop stage-diving, which was fair, but it definitely toned things down a bit. Still, the energy stayed high. After their set, I ended up next to the lead singer in the bathroom line and told him how great their stage presence was. We talked for a minute about how the balcony has the best view in the room, and he ended up joining us there later. 

He also looked exactly like Pete Wentz, bassist and lyricist for Fall Out Boy, which turned into a whole conversation with the people around us. That’s one of my favorite parts of shows like this; you end up talking to the people next to you without even thinking about it. We were standing near this couple from Raleigh who, honestly, didn’t look like the typical crowd for a show like this, but they were so into it. They told us they just like going to shows whenever they can, which I really respect. There’s something really cool about that kind of openness.

We ended up trading music recommendations. They told me to check out smokedope2016, a Virginia rapper and producer credited with “bringing cloud rap back to life”, and I told them to listen to Jazz Cabbage, an emo and math punk band from Illinois. They left right before Camping in Alaska came on, which honestly felt like they missed the best part of the night.

Dead Butterflies was the last opener, and I was the most excited for them. A few weeks ago, I kept seeing clips of their song “Embers” on TikTok and loved it, but didn’t realize they were opening for this show until later. There’s something so delightful about being lowkey more hyped for an opener than the main band. They were incredible live. Their sound is a mix of electronic screamo and live instrumentation, and the use of brass was especially beautiful in person. It added so much depth that a screen can't translate. Their stage presence was also insane; they had the whole crowd jumping up and down, yelling, “yeah! yeah! yeah!” I felt like I was connected to every single person in the room.

At one point in the bathroom line again, I noticed one of the band members, their trombone player, had X’s on their hands, which made me realize they were probably just a bit younger than me, like 18 to 20. That kind of blew my mind. They are touring, building a huge following, creating something so incredibly unique for their age, and growing a subculture that existed long before they were even born. It’s really exciting to see, even if I can’t imagine how overwhelming that must be.

Image Credit: Sarah Jackson

Then Camping in Alaska came on.

They sounded exactly like their recordings, but also better in a way that only live music can be. Their lead singer sounds exactly the same as he did over a decade ago, which is kind of crazy. Hearing their songs live made everything hit harder. There’s something about their music that feels nostalgic and specific, and being in a room full of people singing it back together made that feeling even more real.

I went into the show just wanting to go to a concert, and left as a genuine fan. By the end of the night, my friend summed it up pretty perfectly:

“I had a good couple of beers with the bros, listened to some sad music, and ate some Raising Canes after. It was awesome!”

It really was one of those nights that remind you why you go to shows in the first place.