When We Were Young Fest is ready for another run. With the announcements of next year’s dates on October 19 and 20, the stacked lineup has fans excited with the number of acts performing iconic albums. From Cobra Starship, Hey Monday, Millionaires to Fall Out Boy, 3OH!3, and more, there will be a ton of tunes that audiences are stoked to hear live (maybe even for the first time!) Here are 15 songs we’re dying to hear at When We Were Young 2024.
1. The Sharpest Lives — My Chemical Romance
With a noticeable opening heavy bass line, the fourth track on My Chemical Romance‘s The Black Parade is a theatrical yet emotional song that carries the listener through the story of “The Patient,” who is the main character on the popular concept album. Through an aggressive beat with romanticized lyrics of a dark time, such as, “Give me a shot to remember/And you can take all the pain away from me/Your kiss, and I will surrender,” there’s an intoxicating energy that brings the song into full fruition of the journey being told through the eyes “The Patient” that fans will see in full at the fest.
2. A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More “Touch Me” — Fall Out Boy
“You call yourselves hunters?!”A vampire Pete Wentz says to his band turned Helsing-esqe hunters in their music video for the song. While Fall Out Boy hasn’t shared which album they’ll be performing in full yet, any song off of From Under The Cork Tree is welcomed. Not only is the song a pop-punk scream-along at its core, but the music video for the track features the Decaydance Cinematic Universe. That being William Beckett of The Academy Is…, Travie McCoy of Gym Class Heroes, and Vegas-native Brendon Urie of Panic! At the Disco, all in a showdown between humans and creatures of the night. While neither The Academy Is… nor Gym Class Heroes are scheduled to return next year, you never know who might show up for a guest spot.
3. Dismantle Me — The Distillers
More punk than pop, The Distillers make a rare festival appearance to perform their stand-out album, Coral Fang. Australian singer Brody Dalle uses her scratchy, sultry, powerhouse vocals on “Dismantle Me” to address the regret of a relationship, acknowledging that moving on helps with healing. This is a track the pit should open up for, plus a band that you shouldn’t miss seeing at the festival.
4. The City Is At War — Cobra Starship
There needs to be more dancing at concerts. With Cobra Starship reuniting, there’s no doubt that people won’t be moving their hips a little bit. Especially this track that tells the story about “it’s who you know,” and you have to fight for your place in the spotlight. With the band gracing the stage for the first time since 2015, what fans can expect is going to be a surprise. What this means is that electro-pop-punk is most definitely back.
5. King for a Day — Pierce The Veil
Would you jump off the Jersey Bridge if Pierce The Veil said so? Don’t answer that, but screaming that back at them during their set will get fans moving. The song has been everywhere over the last year and a half, thanks to it going viral on TikTok. From dance trends to outfit glow-up videos, the song generated a resurgence for mainstream metalcore sounds. At the debut of WWWY in 2022, Sleeping With Sirens’ frontman Kellin Quinn jumped on stage for guest vocals on the song. Hopefully, it happens again. Especially since SWS is performing their album, Let’s Cheers To This.
6. Niki FM — Hawthorne Heights
If someone stood outside of your window, playing this song, would you risk it all? Hawthorne Heights fans would. The single, named after vocalist J.T. Woodruff’s now wife, is the ultimate emo sad, romance track. With lyrics “I sleep with one eye opened so I can/See you breathing/I follow your chest bone” reiterate the adoration steeped into this song that might get lost behind the screams and overall heartwrenching attitude it gives off. However, that feeling is truly loving someone so much that you miss them when they’re away. And isn’t that what every emo kid wants?
7. There’s No Penguins In Alaska — Chiodos
Chiodos is back! Vocalist Craig Owens will grace the stage to perform All’s Well That Ends Well, and of course, “There’s No Penguins In Alaska” is one that fans can’t miss seeing. With insane guitar riffs and breakdowns that’ll make you want to get your fingerless gloves on, the band’s return is going to be a must-see set.
8. I’m A Fake — The Used
The final track on In Love and Death opens with a poem that most The Used fans can recite by heart at a moment’s notice…“Small, simple, safe price/Rise the wake and carry me with all of my regrets.” Not only is it a piercing poem that stabs you in the heart because we want the pain of payment, but the rest of the song is a melodic, cathartic journey that wraps the album up beautifully. The band previously played the album in full during their 2016 anniversary tour, along with their debut self-titled.
9. Starstruckk — 3OH!3
Having party music is essential to any festival weekend (at the fest or in your hotel room), and on that playlist, HAS to be 3OH!3’s “Starstruckk.” Not only does it test everybody’s whistling capabilities, but the single is a head-bopping, fist-pumping good time. The deluxe edition of WANT features former scenester and current pop star Katy Perry. With Perry recently finishing her Las Vegas residency, it’s not too far off to hope that she makes a cameo appearance at the fest…for old-time’s sake.
10. Up And Go — The Starting Line
The Starting Line is one of those bands that, at times, gets lost in the foray of discussion of influencing acts in the scene. Say It Like You Mean It gave fans the popular track “The Best Of Me,” yet “Up And Go” opens the album with a story of reminiscing what could have been in a relationship that went up in flames. The band has done a few tours since they came back, including Ohio Is For Lovers 2023, but audiences haven’t seen this album live since 2012.
11. A Praise Chorus — Jimmy Eat World
This single should be used in an early 2000s coming-of-age film—period. The “original emo” sound generates a nostalgic feeling of being out late in your parent’s Jeep, driving around with your freshly printed license with some of your closest friends before you all head off to the next stage in life. But, in a Y2K way. There’s no arguing that the album Bleed American is a staple in the emo scene, and Jimmy Eat World is a band that spans multiple alt-rock generations.
12. Swing Swing — The All-American Rejects
When the opening organ hits, people know what’s about to go down. “Swing, Swing” is a classic pop-rock tune that you and your mom will pop off to. The All-American Rejects make anthemic music that is fun, thought-inducing, and classic. Being able to sing in your bestie’s face, “Can you help me/Find a way to carry on again?” will be a highlight of the fest weekend.
13. Grow Up — Simple Plan
This song was a staple in Disney’s Extreme Skate Adventure soundtrack. While maneuvering around on a digital skateboard as Simba or Buzz Lightyear, an echoing reminder in the background of each level stated, “I don’t wanna be told to grow up/And I don’t wanna change/I just wanna have fun.” Simple Plan may play some devastating songs like “I’m Just A Kid,” but the often overlooked single, “ Grow Up,” is a quick, punchy teenage anthem about wanting to be yourself and fighting against the normality that sometimes comes with becoming an adult.
14. Say Anything (Else) — Cartel
There’s Say Anything, the band. Then there’s the song “Say Anything (Else)” by Cartel. The emo-pop song is infectious with the melodic guitar and clean vocals from singer Will Pugh. Their 2005 album Chroma will be an energetic treat to hear at the fest, especially since the group hasn’t performed live since 2022.
15. This Is Our Emergency — Pretty Girls Make Graves
The early 2000s indie-emo band Pretty Girls Make Graves may have flown under some people’s radar, but with their unique blend of instrumentals and riot grrrl vocals, it’s a band to get familiar with. “This Is Our Emergency” stands out as their 2003 single on their first full-length LP, New Romance. A dash of twinkle emo-core, rhythmic 2000s nostalgia indie, and a scoop of punk create a band that shouldn’t be slept on.
