PREVIEW: Fauxchella VI — EMMIE MAGAZINE

By: Elliot Novak and Jesse Frolik

The conversation that’s been circulating the “EMMIEsphere” the most in the past few months has to be explaining to everyone that we are not, in fact, attending Coachella, rather the emo (and in our opinion superior) equivalent, Fauxchella. A three day festival at Howard’s Club in Bowling Green, Ohio. Fauxchella is back in 2023 for its sixth rendition. Showcasing a slew of emo bands from across the US alongside indie pop and alternative rock, Summit Shack has outdone themselves with this year’s lineup. From San Diego based Aren’t We Amphibians to Ohio natives Equipment, emos from around the country are flocking to Bowling Green this weekend, The fest has officially sold out the entire weekend and the crowd will truly be a sight to behold.

Friday Highlights:

Elliot’s Picks: Ben Quad, Charmer, Equipment, NATL PARK SRVC, Perspective A Lovely Hand to Hold, Saturdays at Your Place, Carpool vs. Summerbruise

Jesse’s Picks: Ben Quad, Charmer, Equipment, NATL PRK SRVC, Saturdays At Your Place, Thank you I’m Sorry, Carpool vs. Summerbruise

Ben Quad

FFO: Hot Mulligan, Cliffdiver, Forests

Must-listens: “You’re a Part of It,” “Unclench Your Jaw,” “Holding Patterns”

Set Time: 10:30pm, Main Stage

Between tours with Singapore math rock icons Forests and modern pop punk staple band Hot Mulligan, Oklahoma City natives Ben Quad are stopping by Bowling Green to kick off Fauxchella VI. After releasing one of the best emo albums of 2022, the group showed no signs of slowing down with addition of the single “You’re Part of It,” (which made it’s way into the top 100 all genre chart on Apple Music following a campaign started by Twitter user @KwinnWilcox) Showing off an impressive blend of intricate, fast paced guitar riffs alongside vocals ranging from gently wistful to borderline hardcore, Ben Quad is the poster child for that one person that says they like to listen to a little bit of everything. — EN

Equipment

FFO: Prince Daddy & The Hyena, Oolong, Death Cab For Cutie, Weezer

Must-listens: “Monkey Ball Gatekeeper (Cinnamon),” “Minnow,” ”LO/FO”

Set Time: 7pm, Main Stage

As Ohio natives, Equipment gets ready to take Fauxchella on their home turf. Following the recent release of their new album Alt. Account, Equipment is riding high on a powerful selection of diverse tracks that I can’t wait to scream at the top of my lungs. Their new concept album is almost genre defining the way that it could easily feel at home being played in a rowdy basement, theater hall, or in a videogame soundtrack. The new tracks feature, besides tight riffs and complex sonic layers, some of the strongest lyricism on any recent release I've heard, which radiates a powerful nostalgia for a childhood lost and found again. — JF

Perspective, a Lovely Hand to Hold

FFO: Macseal, Glocca Morra

Must-listens: “Lost Opportunities,” “Mosh Town, U.S.A.,” “Still (Everyday)”

Set Time: 8:30pm. Side Stage

Perspective, a Lovely Hand to Hold announced earlier that this would be their last tour as a band. The group’s discography debuted in 2014 with their album Autonomy and the group has provided a raw and emotional source of music since then. After announcing that they would be embarking on their farewell tour, the group is going out with bang as they make a pit stop in Bowling Green before their final show at The Fest, in Florida, later this month. Witnessing this band on their farewell tour is going to be one of the many iconic events taking place this weekend and it’s one not to miss. — EN

Saturdays At Your Place

FFO: Hotelier, Mom Jeans

Must-listens: “Tarot Cards,” “It’s always cloudy in kalamazoo,” “Hospital Bed”

Set Time: 4pm, Main Stage

saturdays at your place is one of the newest powerhouses to break into the DIY Emo scene. Since releasing their debut EP Always Cloudy this year, saturdays at your place has ingrained their screamable lyrics, boppy rhythms, and their entrancing math-rock inspired guitar riffs into the hearts and ears of everyone who gives them a listen. They’re playing Fauxchella in preparation for their tour later this month featuring Free Throw, Prince Daddy & The Hyena, and Fauxchella colleagues Charmer. — JF

Saturday Highlights:

Elliot’s Picks: Aren’t We Amphibians, Dad Bod, Camping In Alaska, Michael Cera Palin, Newgrounds Death Rugby, Riley!, Ellie Hart, Dikembe, Arcadia Grey, Cheem, Smoke Detector vs Gwuak

Jesse’s Picks: Arcadia Grey, Aren’t We Amphibians, Arlen Gun Club, Camping In Alaska, Cheem, Dad Bod, Dikembe, Kerosene Heights, Kiss Your Friends, Michael Cera Palin, Newgrounds Death Rugby, Riley!, Smoke Detector, Sunsleeper, 32 Bit Operator, Gwuak

Dikembe

FFO: Marietta, Mom Jeans

Must-listens: “Scottie Spliffen” “Hood Rat Messiah,” “Leveled Again”

Set Time: 12:30am, Main Stage

Who says that midwest emo bands have to be from the Midwest? Not Gainesville natives, Dikembe. The Floridian group has proven time and time again that location is not integral to genre as they continue to deliver the jangly emo sound associated with bands like Marietta and Mom Jeans (neither of which are from the Midwest either I might add, begs the question on why it’s even called midwest emo but that’s for another day). Dikembe is one of the bands on the lineup that I have yet to see in person and their set is definitely one of my most highly anticipated ones. A power nap may be necessary to conserve energy for their performance but past setlist staples “Hood Rat Messiah” and “Scottie Spliffen” will be sure to wake anyone right up. (Dikembe if you see this please play those two *insert prayer hand emoji here*) — EN

Dad Bod

FFO: bugsy, Keep for Cheap, Rigby

Must-listens: “Elliott,” “Spirits,” “Milkdrinker”

Set Time: 5:30pm, Main Stage

A mix of indie rock and shoegaze, Minneapolis band Dad Bod showcasing a blend of gentle vocals and intense instrumentals. The band’s discography is short (only comprising an EP and four singles), but elicits emotions with every track. The group has been hinting at some new music after releasing a demo version of the iconic “Milkdrinker” and every Dad Bod fan I know has been eagerly awaiting its arrival. Dad Bod encapsulates a variety of themes throughout their recorded tracks and their live presence is just as powerful. — EN

Michael Cera Palin

FFO: Sports., Marietta

Must-listens: “Portrait of a Woman on a Couch With Cats,” “If it Makes You Happy,” “Southern Comfort”

Set Time: 11:30pm, Main Stage

If I’m being completely honest, Michael Cera Palin was my gateway to listening to emo music. If having “Portrait of a Woman on a Couch With Cats” on my Spotify top songs for the past 3 years doesn’t give away how excited I am to see them again at Fauxchella, then I’m not sure anything would. With such a small discography, only two short EPs, you’d think they wouldn’t have as much staying power as they do, but that just goes to show the strength of their lyrical and musical talent. With riffs that give me something new to hear every time I listen, to choruses that deserve to be screamed out your window while you fly down a backroad late at night. And with new music cresting on the horizon, I’m sure LP1 will be nothing short of electric! — JF

Sunday Highlights:

Elliot’s Picks: Ben Quad vs Arcadia Grey, Honey Creek, Excuse Me Who Are You?, Tiny Voices, The Sinner and the Saint, Palette Knife, Khaki Cuffs

Jesse’s Picks: Arcadia Grey, Excuse Me Who Are You?, Honey Creek, I Hate It Too, Innerlove, Tiny Voices, Swiss Army Wife, The Casper Fight Scene, The Sinner And The Saint, Palette Knife, Khaki Cuffs

Honey Creek

FFO: Origami Angel, Belmont, Pallete Knife

Must-listens: “Burnt Bitter,” “iQuit,” “Fast Times at Farewell House”

Set Time: 5pm, Main Stage

Honey Creek, out of Milwaukee WI, brings their own brand of high-energy pop punk to any bill they’re on. Honey Creek are pros at crafting harmonic melodies that remind you of the end of summer break and lyrics that revolve around changing and growing as a person. As their anthemic track “iQuit”, off of their most recent EP Self Preservation, reminds you, when it comes to life, it's always “No dice; No time; Bittersweet”. — JF

Tiny Voices

FFO: Algernon Cadwaller, The Hotelier, Free Throw

Must-listens: “I Don’t Even Like Lobster,” “Airports (Acoustic),” “Where My Dawgz At?”

Set Time: 7:30pm, Side Stage

If you asked me which band on this lineup I knew the most lyrics to on this entire fest lineup, the answer would one thousand percent be Tiny Voices. The self-proclaimed “ballroom emo” (no idea what that even means) five piece hailing from Oshkosh, Wis. differs themselves from the rest of the current popular midwest emo sound by emphasizing the use of two guitars as well as crisp harmonies to accompany vocalist Ben Ludens’ execution of aggressive yet emotional words. The group hopped onto the Fauxchella lineup a little later than the other bands on this list (I was shocked when they weren’t on the original poster) but they are another band that I am unspeakably pumped to see live again. Utilizing a blend of various time signatures throughout their discography, Tiny Voices embraces the math rock element of midwest emo to add depth and detail to their sound.

(Quick disclaimer here to keep my journalistic integrity, these guys are personal friends but that doesn’t mean that I’m sugar coating my opinions on their music, guitarist Louie Barlaw will be the first to tell you I am cutthroat when telling him when something sucks) — EN

Excuse Me, Who Are You?

FFO: Stars Hollow, Flight Patterns

Must-listens: “They’re Waiting For You Gordon,” “Chicken Cock,” “Urine Luck,” “...In the Test Chamber” (their whole discography, it’s like 13 minutes, no skips)

Set Time: 6:30pm, Side Stage

I need to put another disclaimer here to continue preserving my journalistic integrity but Excuse Me, Who Are You? Also known as “EMWAY?” was one of the bands that played the first ever house show I went to so they’ll always hold a special place in my heart. With their emotional lyrics combating the downright goofy names (Chicken Cock, Urine Luck, etc), the iconic midwest emo band Excuse Me, Who Are You? Has proven themselves time and time again to be a staple of the Wisconsin music scene. The four piece released their first EP About That Beer I Owed Ya last October and it was practically all anyone in the Wisconsin emo-sphere could talk about for a very extended period of time. EMWAY? uses the complex guitar riffs akin to standard midwest emo alongside bordering hardcore lyrics delivered wonderfully by vocalist Kyle Kinney. EMWAY? is a band that exhibits the incredible evolution midwest emo has undergone since the 1990s. — EN

Stay tuned for interviews and Fauxchella updates on our website and social media.