James Viscardi, a college student finishing up his final semester at Pace University has taken it upon himself to take an indepth look at the growth of “Emo” culture over the last decade. He, and fellow music enthusiasts will embark upon this journey and in the end, who knows, maybe you’ll see all these thoughts put in a paper and published. Things said on this blog may offend you, if they do, i’m sorry but the opinions of the people participating in this study/analysis are allowed to have their own opinion. Let us please be grown up about this.
And that’s that. Wondering where “Emo” came from? This blog is for you.
PROJECT EMO 
I thought that the whole thing started when the DC scene got all violent and Ian MacKaye started Embrace.
But I know nothing
My emo education began by seeing The Promise Ring on tour with Texas is the Reason. Then all the local Miami hardcore bands started softer side bands with singing/screaming parts. Strongarm members went on to form Further seems Forever and then the singer of Further Seems Forever became Dashboard Confessional.
The Promise Ring, The Get Up Kids, Texas is the Reason, Braid, The Casket Lottery. These were, I felt, some of the central bands to that whole movement. Then there were others, like Small Brown Bike, Enkindle (The Enkindels), American Football, Rye Coalition, Piebald, and a lot of the Initial, Doghouse, and Polyvinyl records lineups.
Bands like Sleepytime Trio and Four Hundred Years mixed it up with hardcore, too.