Partridge Records throws an unabashedly authentic Emo Prom
By MIRIAM RAMAKRISHNAN — arts@theaggie.org
Watching guitarists jump into the mosh pit with no hesitation alongside their photographers accurately sums up the events of Partridge Records’ Emo Prom, held on Apr. 10 at the UC Davis Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center in Alpha Gamma Rho Hall.
Ranging from Bay Area to Central Valley origins, bands included Masked Jestures, Shmoozi Cut, Displaced Aggression and The Denim Nuns. Each group covered a different emo-subculture band, allowing for an intense Davis-style Warped Tour.
Iris Shih, Partridge Records’ events lead and a third-year environmental toxicology major, noted that this was the biggest show in the club’s history. The Instagram post announcing Emo Prom received over 2,500 likes and close to 1,500 shares — intimidating for a venue with a 260-person capacity.
“We’ve never had this level of engagement before,” Shih said. “I just hope that everyone is able to have a good time and listen to some good music.”
Richmond-based band Masked Jestures took on personas within emo band Fall Out Boy, redlining the sound system during their 35-minute set. Dylan Lavitoria, lead singer, rhythm guitarist and a first-year political science major, revealed that this is the band’s first show in Davis.
“I think the spirit of Fall Out Boy is pretty present in our band,” Lavitoria said. “They don’t take themselves too seriously when they talk about love, and their lyrics are pretty sarcastic. That energy is definitely present in our type of music.”
When asked for Masked Jestures’ goal out of the night, Lavitoria had a simple, genuine answer.
“I want the crowd to dance,” Lavitoria said. “I want everyone to come out of the show exhausted because of how much fun they had.”
Emo Prom also marked the creation of a new Davis supergroup: local bands Shmoozi and Budget Cut put their talents together to create Shmoozi Cut or Shutt, a six-piece project that will continue long after this performance.
Mia Armenta, lead singer of Shmoozi and a fourth-year biological science major, expressed how excited she was to take on tracks by pop-punk icon Hayley Williams during Shutt’s Paramore-themed set.
“[Williams] definitely lives in me and has for a long time,” Armenta said. “The way she sings is really unique and intense, and it’s hard to mimic her. When I joined Shmoozi, I tried to bring those punky femme vocals into the band alongside my own.”
Brandon Ramirez, Budget Cut’s lead singer, guitarist and a fourth-year electrical engineering major, explained how different Paramore’s work is from Budget Cut’s more psychedelic, classic-rock style.
“I never really listened to Paramore,” Ramirez said. “At least, I thought I didn’t know any of their songs, but then I listened to them and thought ‘Oh wait, so this is Paramore.’ It’s forced me to open up new parts of my brain to play in a very specific way.”
Many of the bands that played at Emo Prom were female-fronted, including Shutt. Armenta commented on her appreciation for the presence and leadership of female artists, especially in the context of the Davis music scene.
“I don’t really know any big pop-punk female-led local bands,” Armenta said. “Those bands are needed, and I hope this is the show that does it.”
Other members of the newfounded band include Johnny Moeller, drummer and a fourth-year chemistry major, Em Gollnick, bassist and a third-year microbiology major, Asher Ekberg, bassist and a second-year history major and Alexander Liesegang, guitarist, vocalist and a first-year environmental policy and management graduate student.
Emo Prom was hosted in collaboration between Partridge Records, UC Davis’ student-run record label, and the Aggie Goth & Alternative Society, also known as AggieBats.
AggieBats founder and President Juliana Cardoza, a third-year cognitive science and design double major, spoke about her personal history with emo subculture.
“I’m not emo nor do I consider myself emo, but labels are a silly thing,” Cardoza said. “I’ve been a fan of the subculture since I was a little girl. My older siblings had that 2010s awkward emo phase that really shaped my style today.”
Cardoza expressed her gratitude for the amount of attention that the club’s events are receiving and for the opportunity to collaborate with Partridge.
“The scene has to stick together to keep it alive,” Cardoza said. “We are so happy to see that the alternative scene is alive and getting more exposure — everyone should have the privilege to express themselves.”
For its performers and attendees, Emo Prom was not only a loud and energetic event, but an embodiment of life and excitement. To stay up to date with future Partridge Records’ events — including house shows and Friday performances at the Memorial Union Bus Terminal — you can follow their Instagram @partridgerecs.
Written by: Miriam Ramakrishnan — arts@theaggie.org