VIA PRESS RELEASE | Craft Recordings celebrates the 20th anniversary of Hawthorne Heights’ Gold-certified sophomore studio album If Only You Were Lonely with a vinyl reissue. Set for release on July 17 and available for pre-order, the LP includes the Dayton, Ohio-bred rock band’s chart-climbing single “Saying Sorry” and essential hits like “This Is Who We Are,” “Pens and Needles,” and “I Am on Your Side.”
In addition to standard wide black vinyl, If Only You Were Lonely will also be available in several exclusive colorways, including “Blue and Purple with Black Splatter” (via Hawthorne Heights), “Pink Swirl” (via Urban Outfitters), and “Ink Swirl” (Via Craft Recordings/Victory Records). The band is celebrating the album all year on their If Only You Were Lonely anniversary tour, with dates throughout Australia, Asia, Europe, The UK, and North America.
Formed in 2001 under the name A Day in the Life, Hawthorne Heights quickly emerged as a defining force on the scene thanks to their arena-ready collision of pop punk, hardcore, and emo. Known for their signature interplay of melodic vulnerability and visceral catharsis, the band began with a lineup comprised of lead vocalist/guitarist JT Woodruff, guitarist Micah Carli, guitarist/unclean vocalist Casey Calvert, bassist/backing vocalist Matt Ridenour, and drummer Eron Bucciarelli.
In 2004, the five-piece caught the attention of Victory Records—the influential rock, metal, punk, and hardcore label whose roster has included seminal acts like Thursday, Taking Back Sunday, and more. Following Concord’s 2019 acquisition of Victory Records, its three-decade-spanning catalog is now managed by Craft Recordings.
After making their triumphant debut with The Silence in Black and White—their Gold-certified 2004 LP featuring the iconic hit single “Ohio Is for Lovers”—the band returned to the studio in fall 2005 to create If Only You Were Lonely with award-winning producer David Bendeth (Paramore, Mayday Parade, Of Mice & Men). Recorded at Water Music Recording Studios in Hoboken, NJ, and named for a B-side by The Replacements, the result is a 12-song powerhouse that boldly expanded their sound while adding even greater emotional depth to their songwriting.
In a profound evolution of the raw volatility of The Silence in Black and White, If Only You Were Lonely arrived as Hawthorne Heights’ most cohesive and intentionally crafted body of work to that point. With its heightened emphasis on mood and atmosphere, the highly introspective album pushes into cinematic terrain and broadens the band’s sonic palette by weaving in lush string sections and delicate piano parts—ultimately bringing moments of unexpected beauty to its lived-in portrait of isolation and frustration.
As Woodruff revealed in a recent Podioslave podcast interview, the album took shape as he contended with the alienation of sudden fame—an experience he refers to as “feeling like I’m on the outside looking in and being a spectator of my own life now that I constantly have an audience.”
As the album’s lead single, “Saying Sorry” provided a powerful entry point to If Only You Were Lonely, unfolding with an aching intensity as Hawthorne Heights reflect on emotional damage that can’t be undone—an outpouring that struck a chord with audiences, with the ear-catching track soon climbing to No.7 on Billboard’s Alternative Songs Chart. Throughout the LP, the band journeys from the anthemic fury of the album-opening “This Is Who We Are” (a restless meditation on identity and dislocation) to the tender urgency of “Pens and Needles” (an explosive study in emotional survival) to the bittersweet reassurance of “I Am on Your Side” (a galvanizing statement of devotion).
Released via Victory Records in February 2006, If Only You Were Lonely hit No.3 on the Billboard 200 and claimed the No.1 spot on Billboard’s Independent Albums and Top Rock Albums charts. Hawthorne Heights’ newly elevated artistry earned praise from critics, with PopMatters declaring that “the album shows a confident band belting off catchy tune after tune.” Meanwhile, AllMusic noted that “the group manages to walk the fine line between art and its aspirations of world domination with its credibility in check.”
“All you could ever want as an artist is to create music that moves the listener for an extended period of time,” Woodruff explains, “If Only You Were Lonely is kind of like your favorite hoodie—you keep buying new ones, but nothing quite feels like it, so you keep putting it on. It has become a comfort album to many people around the world, and to still be playing these songs after 2 decades means everything to us. We have dedicated 2026 to celebrate the album with our fans, and we are having the time of our lives!”
With their catalog now encompassing seven studio albums (including three LPs released via Victory), Hawthorne Heights’ current lineup consists of Woodruff and Ridenour as well as Mark McMillon (vocals, lead guitar) and Chris Popadak (drums). Twenty-five years after their formation, the band remains a hard-charging live act known for building a fiercely loyal fan base.
To that end, Hawthorne Heights recently launched the If Only You Were Lonely 20th anniversary tour—a massive international headline run that continues until late November. See the list of dates at www.hawthorneheights.com for more information.
