As someone who tries to keep an expansive music taste, I can shamefully admit I’ve never gotten too into the emo genre. This is mostly due to the fact that my initial listen to some emo bands didn’t stick out to me. But Vs Self was not one of them. Formed by members Kyle Schlenker, Frankie Lopez, and Dante, Vs Self has been one of the more recognized new emo “screamo” bands as a result of the arbitrary use of their music on the notorious app TikTok. Whether it was users showing off their stylish outfits of the day or a slideshow full of unfunny memes, there was an era where my For You Page was flooded with Vs Self songs, which ultimately turned me into a fan. Since they were one of the first screamo bands that I discovered, I was captivated by the passionate and raw sound behind their songs. In songs like “Ti Esrever” and “Heartache”, they perfectly capture this Midwest Emo and screamo sound while singing about subjects like young heartbreak and melancholic yearning for acceptance. So, being given the green light to cover Vs Self was exciting and nerve wracking—not only because I’d get to see one of my favorites, but also because it would be my first coverage for RadioUTD!
The concert was held in Deep Ellum at Club Dada, which heavily contrasted to their previous concert location at Rubber Gloves in Denton, Texas. After the concert had ended around peak Deep Ellum party time, it was overwhelming being in the mix of nervous, sweaty teenagers wearing their Vs Self merch while waiting for their rides in a crowd of sweaty, seemingly intoxicated adults (I highly advise against being in Deep Ellum past 10 PM).
The concert was held at the outside stage instead of the inside one, which was occupied by another band. It was a small but cozy location. It was surprisingly less full than what I expected when I first arrived, but got a bit more full later on. Fans were either stationed at the front of the stage or seated at a wooden table that encircled the pit.
Before Vs Self took the stage, two incredible opening bands kicked off the night. The first band to open was Denton-based Skimp. As I always mentioned on my radio shows, it’s always satisfying to see talented musicians based in the DFW area gain popularity. Skimp is familiar with Club Dada since they also opened up for Weatherday back in late March. The band played some tracks off their newly released album Very Much So and How. It was a 30 minute set composed of both soothing and energizing tracks, ending off with my favorite track “Oh No Way.” After their great performance, Skimp gave the floor to Punxsutawney, a California based band that played some great instrumental tracks. They have this post-rock sound that I fell in love with. They played instrumental tracks throughout their 30 minutes, many starting off with a slow guitar riff, eventually building up to a noisy mix including drums and bass. Their last track was a bit longer, nonetheless the band put on an outstanding set.
Before Vs Self started their highly anticipated set, my girlfriend and I got to buy merch from Schlenker! They were extremely nice to us, and were nice enough to give me a station ID for the station to play during our radio shows, so make sure to tune in next semester to hear that! At last, Vs Self took the stage as they started slowly setting up their instruments. Eager fans throughout looked up at them in admiration as they patiently waited for the first song to play.
Schlenker started off playing the beginning of “Homesick” as Dante slowly shook his tambourine. The trio played the song seamlessly, sounding even better than it does compared to when I listen to it through my earphones. As they continued playing through their setlist, the simplicity of their music hit me. Contrary to the complex amount of instruments many of my other favorite bands use, Vs Self only needed a guitar, a drum set, and Dante’s iconic tambourine.
The crowd cheered as they played tracks like “Promise” and “Leave Everything.” Before one track, Schlenker gave his heart out to the crowd as he gave a heartfelt message for everyone that came out to support them and the openers, showing the sincerity and authenticity that I admire about the band. The night ended with an encore, with them leaving the stage and shortly coming out to play “Maudlin” and ending their set with fan-favorite “Mourn.”
The post concert depression hit me hard. The music wasn’t the only aspect that I enjoyed about the night, but also the lively ambiance. Seeing groups of friends enjoying each other’s presence, the streaking lights hanging above the tables, and the wide range of fans that came out to support the bands. Shout out to the group of UTD alumni students that my girlfriend and I talked to prior to the concert for holding our seats and allowing us to take a picture of their matching Vs Self merch.
