Growing Up On Page: Story Of The Year Live in Raleigh

Story of the Year left an unmistakable mark on the 2000s punk scene and every emo kid growing up in it, and nearly 25 years later, they’re still raging on stage with the same fire they did back then. Teaming up with Senses Fail for the first time in the bands’ long-lasting friendship, the two post-hardcore big shots are bringing the ‘Scream Team’ Tour across the United States for 19 dates this fall season, bringing fellow post-hardcore longtimer Armor For Sleep along for the ride. Packed with the timeless raw energy and power they had at Warped Tour back in the day, these two legends have managed to both evolve their sound and stay true to their hardcore roots — a rarity among bands that have shared the scene with them over the years. 

From spilling our hearts out to “Until the Day I Die” to screaming along to “Anthem of Our Dying Day,” the St. Louis-based band Story of the Year captured the broken hearts of punk and emo kids alike as they burst into the rock scene with their debut album, Page Avenue, in 2003. As a defining record for the band, its fans, and the post-hardcore scene as a whole, it was one of the first albums of its genre to be certified both Gold and Platinum by the RIAA. Even in 2025, the record remains a fan-favorite among millions of listeners worldwide. If you’ve ever been to an emo night before, you’ve definitely heard the crowd sing-along to at least one of SOTY’s hits.

Story of the Year delivered a love letter to their fans in 2023 with the release of their sixth studio album, Tear Me to Pieces, a wonderful blend of their old and new sounds with hits such as “War” and “Real Life.” The album cover and its contents pay tribute to Page Avenue and marked the end of a six-year dry spell without a new record from the band. Tear Me to Pieces blends the band’s classic 2000s punk sound with more modern elements, but stays true to their roots in the early mainstream post-hardcore scene.

On the second date of the ‘Scream Team’ Tour, Story of the Year smashed into The Ritz this past Tuesday night, flooding the smaller 1,400-capacity venue with hundreds of die-hard fans — proving that the 2000s pop-punk scene hasn't faded and that it never really was “just a phase.” Beams of light shot through The Ritz with an exquisite lighting setup from the band, bringing a flashy atmosphere to match the intense music rumbling through the walls.

After opener Armor For Sleep got the crowd moshing and hyped up for the night, Story of the Year made a hilarious entrance to the stage by daintily riding in on scooters like the pretty princesses they are, drawing a ton of laughs from the crowd and being the first of many, many stage gags throughout the set. SOTY frontman Dan Marsala then kicked off the real show with the band’s latest fiery single, “Gasoline (All Rage Still Only Numb),” as the first taste of their upcoming studio album, A.R.S.O.N., and showed the fans that these old dogs have absolutely learned some new tricks. Throughout the 80-minute set, crowdsurfers had a field day in the pit as they rode to the barricade in waves during the heavier songs, and moshers spun a huge circle pit around a pillar in the center of the venue during "'Is This My Fate?' He Asked Them."

Throughout their set, Story of the Year took the audience on a journey through 22 years of their discography with hits from their records In the Wake of Determination, The Black Swan, Tear Me to Pieces, and, of course, Page Avenue. Saving their most popular songs for last, they played 3 out of 4 songs from Page Avenue during the second half of their set, taking the first half to set the mood right and introduce their newer music to fans who may not have heard it yet.

Marsala poked some fun at drummer Josh Wills during an interlude for somehow cutting his shoulder open a bit with a drum stick mid-song, causing both gasps of shock and laughter from the crowd, and fans screaming at Wills to get a bandage. SOTY’s set was full of on-stage shenanigans, from high fives and somersaults, to playful fistfights and games of leap-frog. Lead guitarist Ryan Phillips was hopping left and right across the stage for nearly every song, repeatedly flinging himself from the drum platform. As arguably the greatest feat of the show, bassist Adam Russell clambered on top of a speaker for “Our Time is Now,” and nearly fell off after losing a bit of his balance, but stayed true to the song’s message and never stepped down until the end.

Marsala both jumped into the crowd for a song and made several appearances during Senses Fail’s set, tossing them water and dodging equally crazy stage antics. Every member of Story of the Year rarely stood still and treated the stage almost like a jungle gym at times (save for Wills, who was sentenced to his drum stool), making it hard to believe that these shockingly agile men are all in their 40s.

After a heartfelt flashlight and lighter tribute for the emotional hit “Sidewalks,” the crowd sang in unison one last time that night as the band played their biggest hit “Until the Day I Die,” bringing an uproar of unified voices as everyone screamed their emo hearts out to the timeless classic. 

Their presence in the venue was utterly incredible, and Story of the Year is one of the most dynamic bands I’ve ever seen in concert, with the true essence of confidence (and recklessness) that defined the 2000s punk scene. It was my first time seeing them on a headlining tour, and I had a fantastic time witnessing their performance. I’ll be anxiously awaiting their return to North Carolina in the future during their inevitable tour when A.R.S.O.N. releases in 2026. With a tour starting this successfully and a brand-new album on the way, SOTY has built up undeniable momentum since their reunion and refuses to show any signs of stopping.