Hawthorne Heights Ignite Manila With If Only You Were Lonely at 20

American emo band Hawthorne Heights finally made its Manila debut on May 6, 2026 with a headline show at the SM North EDSA Skydome as part of the Lonely World Tour. The concert also marked the 20th anniversary of If Only You Were Lonely, the band’s RIAA Gold-certified and highest-charting album.

The set focused heavily on tracks from the anniversary record along with some of the band’s most recognizable songs. Fans filled the venue with singalongs during “Saying Sorry,” “Pens and Needles,” and “Niki FM.” The night closed with “Ohio Is for Lovers,” with the crowd carrying the chorus from start to finish.

The band opened the show with “This Is Who We Are,” setting the tone early with the lines:

“I know it seems like we’re never coming back
I know it feels like we’re never coming back…”

Frontman JT Woodruff took a moment to thank the audience and shared how long he had wanted to perform in the Philippines. The set moved at a steady pace and kept the focus on the music, giving longtime listeners a chance to revisit the songs that defined the band’s mid-2000s era.

The Manila stop formed part of the band’s Southeast Asia run and highlighted the lasting impact of If Only You Were Lonely more than 20 years after its release. Throughout the night, the crowd response reflected how Hawthorne Heights’ music continues to connect with listeners across different generations, with fans singing along to tracks that helped define the mid-2000s emo scene.

This event is presented by PULP Live World