Ahead of Columbia date, how debuts from Emery, The Almost hold up today

Since its founding 30 years ago, Seattle's Tooth and Nail Records formed a haven.

The label put forth edgier music — punk, metal, electronic, emo and shades between — for kids who knew the relative comfort or discomfort of a church pew. Well-known Tooth and Nail acts past and present include Copeland, Further Seems Forever, MxPx, Starflyer 59 and mewithoutYou.

These records were made by seekers, not soothsayers; those still in conversation with the faith of their fathers and mothers — whether that conversation took the form of reverent prayers or shouted suspensions of belief.

A current anniversary tour shines a light on how well slivers of the Tooth and Nail catalog has aged, with Emery and The Almost teaming to play through their seminal debuts for the label. The run of dates runs into Columbia next week, so it's worth taking another look and listen to refresh memories of these records — and see how well they hold up around 20 years later.

Emery, "The Weak's End"

Release: January 2004

Background: The South Carolina-forged band offered up a couple EPs and resettled to Seattle before releasing this first full-length with Tooth and Nail.

What you'll hear: The howled first line "Are you listening?" (on lead track "Walls") perfectly sets up a set that, more often than not, demands attention. Melodic and screamed vocals twine seamlessly, as do serrated guitars and neon synth lines.

Melodically, "The Weak's End" can't always keep its promises, but these songs are framed to near perfection, abiding cathartic moments that tend to make up for any shortfalls. And later-album tracks such as "Under Serious Attack" show off the range of Emery's capabilities, reaching a more nuanced, even soulful, emo sound with effective use of tension and release.

Where the band headed: Buoyed by founding singer Toby Morrell, guitarist Matt Carter and keyboardist Josh Head — while both welcoming back old friends and mingling in new members — Emery keeps an unbroken momentum; their most recent release, 2022's "Rub Some Dirt on It," brought the band back to Tooth and Nail after producing a few records on their own.

The Almost, "Southern Weather"

Release: April 2007

Background: A new vehicle for Underoath stalwart Aaron Gillespie, the Florida project grew from what was initially a one-man show — a la Dave Grohl and the first Foo Fighters record — to a full-fledged band.

What you'll hear: Initial freight-train rhythms open into a straight-ahead hard rock sound on opener "Say This Sooner." From there, Gillespie brushes up against nearly every shadow of Americana while creating a textured, complete sound that doesn't sacrifice any volume for the sake of its deep, wide sonic interests.

At its heaviest, "Southern Weather" feels wavy like electricity, but also clears a berth for unshackled acoustic takes on blues-based forms. The record is more explicit about its spirituality than a number of counterparts from the same era, interpolating gospel music texts into its real-time canon.

Where the band headed: The Almost dropped three full-length albums and a few EPs on Tooth and Nail before pressing pause around 2015. Four years later, the band roared back with "Fear Caller," still its most recent album and its debut on Fearless Records, home to acts like Boys Like Girls and Pierce the Veil.

How do these albums hold up around 20 years later?

"Southern Weather" is a more complete record than "The Weak's End," but the latter is truly reflective of a moment and creates the right kind of buzz around a new band, buzz that Emery would come to fulfill.

Emery and The Almost will play The Blue Note with Bad Luck and Conman Economy at 7:30 p.m. May 11. Tickets are $25-$45. Visit https://thebluenote.com/ for more details.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Emery, The Almost mark album anniversaries at Columbia tour stop