All photos by: Shanna M. Rogers / Opener Photography
One of my favorite places to be on any night of the week is at a local North Carolina pop punk or emo show at one of the many venues around Raleigh. Even on Sundays, as July 20th, 2025, was no different. I stared down a fantastic lineup at The Pour House, bouncing on my toes in anticipation of the music starting. Headlined by Moving Boxes (Raleigh/Charlotte, NC) with support from blankstate. (Charlotte, NC), Found Footage (Wilmington, NC), and ColorMeKrazy! (Raleigh, NC), the night was slated to be one hell of a show.
ColorMeKrazy! took the stage first, and let me be the first to tell you: that evening’s set list was their best to date. Trust me. I’ve been to every one of their shows, so I’m somewhat of an expert. It was the best.
One of Raleigh’s hit new electronic pop punk bands made it very well known why they claim the genre they do, with a sound that fuses hyperpop and electronic elements with early 2000s pop punk. They were electric from the blasting opener, “Fences” to the melodic final ballad, “In My Arms”.
Playing several songs from their first EP, Paint The World, and their newest release, “Last Summer” kept the crowd jumping and moving from start to finish. Especially when lead singer Mia Brunal jumped off stage to mosh with the crowd. They even snuck in an upcoming release, “Stupid In Love”, which I’m very excited to see released later this year.
Found Footage took the stage next and laid out a stellar performance despite becoming an unexpected duo for the evening. Down a member, the two took the stage and ensured the show went on, playing some of their hit songs, such as their newest release, “SIRENS”, while adding in a cover or two that made the crowd sing and shout along throughout. I commend their fortitude in looking past the obstacles and still delivering a great emo pop rock fusion performance, including a complex stage show that featured cool visuals and a projector.
Charlotte heavy-hitters blankstate. were up in the evening’s third slot. To say energy pulsed from the stage throughout the crowded room is an understatement. Self-labeled with the genre of “indie-emo”, they put on a performance that was worthy of the name — unique, whimsical, and emotional, while staying powerful, blasting, and energetic. The trio knows how to weave lyrics and melody together in a way that lends well to heart-pounding performances, with such songs as their hit singles, “this spider’s thread is mine, who said you could climb it?”, “catburger!!!”, “monkey joe sandwich”, and “i had to know”.
Between the harmonious vocals, the expert screams, and the unique sound, it’s one hell of a show every time they take the stage. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention lead singer Jacob’s skillful and fun hat switches throughout the set. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen blankstate, and it will not be the last. That much I can assure you.
Headlining the evening is one of my all-time favorite North Carolina bands: Moving Boxes. Whenever this band makes its way to Raleigh, I try to make my way to whatever venue they’re playing at.
Along with being some of the coolest people I know, their music scratches the back of my “elder emo” brain in a way I haven’t experienced since the early 2000s when bands like Taking Back Sunday made their way onto my burned CDs. Claiming “southeast emo whatevercore” as their genre on Spotify, they put the emo back in emotional music in a way that I admire.
Throughout their set for the evening, they previewed three new songs from an upcoming album they’re working on, which promises a continued trend of stellar emo tunes. Until then, I’ll keep listening to “Slap Your Mama Seasoning”, “Stop Signs are Merely Suggestions”, and “Mubblegum” on repeat while crying into my seltzer water.
If you ever have the opportunity to see any of these bands, you should take it. If you’ve got the opportunity to see them together? Do everything in your power to be in the crowd. You won’t regret it.
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