THE STORY SO FAR: LEEDS, UK
The Story So Far
at Leeds University in Leeds, UK
words by Emily Fletcher
For more than a decade, The Story So Far has held an esteemed status within the pop-punk community. Their resemblance to Blink-182's sound has undoubtedly contributed to their enduring popularity among fans - so it comes to no surprise that they are continuing to lead the punk game.
Compared to others in the pop-punk scene, like Neck Deep, Holding Absence, and Boston Manor, The Story So Far maintains a relatively low profile. They don’t tour as much, especially in the UK, and their online presence lacks consistency. As a devoted The Story So Far fan, this can be rather sad.
Nonetheless, when they announced their UK tour with a limited number of dates, I wasted no time in securing a ticket. I didn't even bother checking the price - honestly, just take my money.
It came to no surprise that they sold out the venue very quickly. The Story So Far has left an incredible imprint on the pop-punk realm, and although they go quiet, when they drop a new single or announce a tour, it feels as if they've never left.
With the recent release of their latest single, ‘Big Blind,’ along with tantalising hints of an upcoming album, the crowd at The Story So Far's Leeds gig was brimming with nostalgia and enthusiasm. The joy and anticipation of their return, after 5 years, was very clear.
When they came out the room was filled with screams, it felt like it was 2015 when they had just dropped their self titled album and my emo phase had peaked. You could sense authentic joy and excitement all around, almost as if it wasn't a regular Thursday with the looming prospect of work the next day and the realisation that you're no longer 15 - yet, for a few hours, it sure felt that way.
They combined a mix of their 2018 album Proper Dose and their older albums, definitely not forgetting the fan favourites. The mosh pit opened, crowd-surfers (including myself) went up and pints were thrown across the crowd - beautiful if you ask me.
From my perspective, pretty much everyone in the crowd seemed to be at least 21 or older. It didn't appear that there were any newer, younger fans in attendance, but this actually enhanced the overall sense of nostalgia.
As I mentioned before, about 90% of the folks in the crowd were enjoying some drinks and channelling their inner emo kid, all while knowing they had to be responsible professionals at 9 a.m the next day. But this, in a way, highlights just how many people The Story So Far has connected with. Personally, I appreciated this because it felt like a collective journey down memory lane.
They played songs such as ‘Things I Can’t Change’, ‘If I Fall’, ‘High Regard’, ‘Heavy Gloom’... The list goes on. Don’t think one song passed where there wasn’t a minimum of 3 crowd surfers, I personally went up for the chorus of ‘Heavy Gloom’, and felt like I was on cloud 9.
The only downfall I have to make, they didn’t play ‘Mt Diablo’ or ‘Clairvoyant’. The Story So Far, Parker Cannon especially, if you’re reading this - what the f*ck? I can guarantee you now, everyone else was thinking the same thing. No gig is complete without the ultimate sad song, and ‘Clairvoyant’ is just that.
Also, 'Mt Diablo' holds a special place in my heart as my personal favourite. I've had dreams where I'm passionately pointing my fingers and belting out the lyrics, although, regrettably, that dream didn't come true during the show. Nevertheless, I wholeheartedly forgive them because they delivered an absolutely unreal performance.
At the end of the day, they made me forget about my adult responsibilities for a day and tune into my inner little emo kid - I think a lot of people felt that way that night. They're undeniably a band that can come and go, yet they'll forever leave a lasting mark on the pop-punk scene. I could probably attend their shows every week without growing tired of them; their stage presence and the way they engage with the crowd clearly just brought pure joy to the crowd.