photos and write-up in collaboration with Sabrina Amoriello
This past Saturday, Story Of The Year stormed the Left Foot main stage at Vans Warped Tour Orlando like a spark from a long-dormant flame, reminding us that emo nostalgia never truly fades, rather it lingers, waiting to be reignited. Active since 2002, the band stands as a cornerstone of that formative era – the heartbeat of countless teenage bedrooms and burned CDs – and they came to prove that the spirit which built it all doesn’t die; it matures, deepens, and roars back stronger than before. The crowd pressed against the barricade long before the set began, drawn by memory as much as sound. The Florida sun hung mercilessly above, but even under the splintering heat, the music felt like an inheritance – proof that pop-punk doesn’t age; it evolves into something more enduring, vivacious.
Story Of The Year is no stranger to the Warped Tour stage. Their first set at the renowned festival dates back to 2002, with repeat appearances through 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2013. This year marks their seventh time returning home to that storied stage. And yet, not a single spark has dulled; if anything, their fire has refined into something blistering and unstoppable. They’ve mastered the delicate balance between nostalgia and renewal, channeling the same chaos that once defined the scene, but with the wisdom of years lived inside it. As they tore through their set, it felt like time folded in on itself. For a moment, we were transported back to the golden summers of early Warped Tour – the dust rising, the crowd screaming every lyric like prayer – where each riff carved itself into memory. They jumped, they kicked, they leaned into the crowd as if gravity was fueled by melody alone, and the response was thunderous. It wasn’t just a performance; it was resurrection, and just in time for their upcoming album cycle beginning winter 2026, which promises to redefine their core sound with heavier elements.
After their set, we had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Story Of The Year, still glowing from the adrenaline on stage. Their humor, animation, and honesty mirrored the very essence of their live show: raw, real, and impossibly alive. Check out our conversation below. And if you haven’t yet seen Story Of The Year live, don’t wait. Find the nearest tour date, lace up your shoes, and step into the pit. It’s one of those nights where you’ll shed the weight of growing pains with your jacket, lose yourself in the sound, and find something you didn’t know you’d been missing.
Story Of The Year has returned swinging in 2025 with the announcement of their latest full-length offering, A.R.S.O.N. (All Rage, Still Only Numb), slated for release on February 13, 2026. The first taste of the album, “Gasoline (All Rage Still Only Numb),” is available now on all streaming platforms.
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