DJs behind Emo Night Tampa have a new radio show on WMNF

Theo Severson and Chris Wood have DJed in tandem as the Crate Brothers for the better part of 15 years. Since 2015, they’ve been the force behind Emo Night Tampa.

While there’s no return date yet for the live event at the Bricks, fans have another option in the meantime. Emo Night Tampa is debuting its own radio show on WMNF-FM 88.5.

Emo Night Tampa’s radio slot will be on Fridays from midnight to 2 a.m. Their first broadcast is this week.

The radio show will be an extension of the popular monthly event, featuring music from bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Origami Angel to Dikembe and You Blew It! Severson and Wood also hope to feature live performances.

“We became friends with people who played Emo Night, so ideally ... we could get them in the studio,” said Severson, 43. “We’re just going to kind of wing it. I think we’re going to take it week by week and do theme nights and see how it goes.”

Emo Night Tampa emerged as an event six years ago, when Severson pitched a party soundtracked by emo records to a friend who worked at First Chance Last Chance in Ybor.

“If it sucks, if no like likes it or comes, I’ll never do it again,” he told her. “But if it’s a hit, we should do it more often.”

People loved it, and a new tradition was born. The monthly event developed a loyal following.

“I’ll be at the grocery store and people will be like, ‘Hey, you’re the Emo Night guy!’” Severson said.

Emo Night Tampa moved to the Bricks, where it took place until the pandemic hit. Then it went virtual.

“We did a couple livestreams, and those are really popular,” said Wood, 45. “We did one at the Hub, which was closed at the time.”

Throughout the last year, regulars have been asking when the event would be back. The pair are waiting to see how live music returns this summer to book their first post-pandemic event, and they don’t expect to book live events before September.

For now, they’re just excited to bring an emo show to WMNF.

“A couple years ago we applied and we never heard anything back,” Severson said. “I think it’s just because it built off the popularity of the night.”