Hawthorne Heights on a roll

Hawthorne Heights

Hawthorne Heights comes to Toledo tomorrow riding the front end of a wave that includes the pending release of their second album, a tour with pop punkers Fall Out Boy, and a performance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien scheduled for March 1.

The 5-year-old Dayton band's second disc, "If Only You Were Lonely" - due to be released Feb. 28 - is expected to debut at number one on the Billboard Top 200 based on advance sales, said Heather West, of Victory Records.

She said the band's first disc, "The Silence in Black and White," is at 122 on the Top 200, and has been on the charts for 57 weeks, longer than all but 13 acts currently on the chart.

Critics didn't like the five-man group's "emocore" approach - vocals that veer from full-throated screams to pure singing, aggressive melodies, and emotionally wrought lyrics - but the fans did, West said.

"It's like the kids have known what the deal is with Hawthorne Heights for two years, but it takes time for the mainstream press to catch up," she said.

Comprised of three guitarists - Casey Calvert, Micah Carli, and JT Woodruff - along with Eron Bucciarelli, drums, and Matt Ridenour, bass, Hawthorne Heights formed in Dayton as A Day in the Life in 2001.

Numerous lineup changes later, they're kicking off a tour at Headliners tomorrow night as the lead act in smaller venues before opening for Fall Out Boy on a tour of stadiums this summer.

Doors open at 7 p.m. for tomorrow's show at Headliners, 4500 North Detroit Ave., and opening acts are Emery, Anberlin, Bleed the Dream, and June.

Tickets for the show are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Advance tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 419-474-1333, Culture Clash at 419-536-5683, Freon Beats at 419-380-8010, and Ramalama Records, 419-531-7625.