The Emo Social Club Podcast

26 May 2026 10:00

Hawthorne Heights: Can 5 Songs Make Me a Fan?

That is JT Woodruff, the ultimate emo wife guy.

In this episode of the Make Me a Fan series, Lizzie selects five tracks from Hawthorne Heights to prove to Brian that the band is more than just early-2000s scene stereotypes. They discuss the band's history, their modern evolution, and whether Brian is ready to join the fandom.

If you had five songs to convince your friend to love your favorite band, what would you choose? In this episode of the Make Me a Fan series, Lizzie tries to convert Brian into a Hawthorne Heights believer.

Despite being in the thick of the mid-2000s scene boom, Brian originally wrote the band off as a skeptic. To prove him wrong, Lizzie brought 5 specific tracks spanning their entire discography to see if she can change his mind: "Ohio Is For Lovers," "Niki FM," "Saying Sorry," "End of the Underground," and "Cardinal."

We break down the undeniable edge-core grip of "Ohio Is For Lovers," revisit their Victory Records TRL era with "Saying Sorry," and look at their modern evolution. Plus, we talk about the nostalgia of the local scene, whether "Ohio Is For Lovers" was destined to be the soundtrack to every Matt Cutshall meme on the internet, and why frontman JT Woodruff is the ultimate "emo wife guy."

Can five songs overwrite 20 years of scene stubbornness?

Episode Chapters:

00:00 - The Make Me A Fan Challenge

03:15 - Breaking Down Ohio Is For Lovers & Scene Stereotypes

15:40 - Cardinal & Their Modern Sound

22:20 - Niki FM: JT Woodruff is the Ultimate Emo Wife Guy

33:10 - Saying Sorry & The Victory Records Era

44:30 - End of the Underground & Brian's Final Verdict

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