The air was stifling as 60,000 people packed in like sardines, each vying to get as close to the darkened stage as possible. For many of them, this was the event of a decade. It had been a long, hot day at the Las Vegas Fairgrounds, where bands started playing around 10 am. Finally, with the sun disappearing behind mountains to the west, the Vegas strip glowed. The stars were poised to come onstage, while light pollution blackened the sky. The irony was appropriate for the 2024 emo music festival When We Were Young, headlined by groups like Fallout Boy, My Chemical Romance, and Pierce the Veil.
During the 2 day festival, over 50 bands performed across 5 stages. In a unique twist on a normal concert, each band (with very few exceptions) played through an album of their choice in full. At the main stages, some fans spent the entire day staking out at the barrier in order to secure the best spot to see their favorite acts. Alternatively, there was an array of food and cool-down areas throughout the venue for those wishing to enjoy their music in a more relaxed environment. Food vendors offered a variety of cuisines, from sushi hand rolls to full pizzas. Festival attendees were able to enjoy their refreshments at picnic tables on fake grass while being cooled down by giant fans and mist, without missing any of the show thanks to large screens dotted around them playing live footage of the acts. The huge crowds also meant huge lines for exclusive festival merchandise, although the event faced backlash and accusations of AI usage after fans noticed multiple band names were misspelled on official merchandise.
Early in the day, vocalist Anthony Green, performing with the rock band LS Dunes, thanked his audience for joining him to celebrate live music. He ended his set by urging the audience to start a band, create their own music, and “make new stuff.” The attitude of attendees as well as performers was emotional, with many bands playing certain songs for the first time in decades, if ever. In only its third year since conception, this distinct offering of a once in a lifetime event marks a promising future for When We Were Young.
“It will be like EDC,” a local speculated, referencing a popular EDM festival. “Last year there were 300,000 people there. This year, more than 500,000.” While her trend observations may be more related to loosening social guidelines and lessened fear surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Las Vegas alongside music lovers worldwide are watching to see how this festival will evolve. Will they be able to draw an audience next year, with competition from the infamous Warped Tour’s planned return?
No matter what the future holds, the 2024 event will certainly not be forgotten by its dedicated attendees, many of whom were seen flooding out of the Las Vegas airports Monday morning sporting platform shoes and brand new merch.