O2 Academy Oxford, 25th October 2024
Nearly 20 years into their career, California-based The Story So Far show no signs of slowing down. Having just released their terrific fifth album, I Want to Disappear, this last June, and having supported pop-punk giants Blink-182 on tour, there was nothing left to do but embark on their own headline tour. And tonight, on a wet October evening, it’s Oxford’s turn.
Slowly but surely, fans of all ages filter in from the bustling streets of Cowley outside, donning either The Story So Far or similar bands’ merch. Neck Deep, My Chemical Romance, and Real Friends t-shirts are all in attendance. As the clock strikes 8 pm, The Story So Far stride on stage. With a respectful wave, they launch straight into ‘Big Blind’, the lead single off I Want to Disappear, which, when played live, is even more powerful than its studio counterpart. But whether it’s the mixing or simply an artistic choice, Ryan Torf’s drumming is overwhelmingly loud, which unfortunately continues throughout the entire show. However, the crowd seem unfazed. Everyone has come to have a good time, and that’s exactly what they’ll do.
Whether a track is old or new, the crowd welcomes it even more enthusiastically than the last
‘The Glass’, from 2013’s What You Don’t See comes next, and at this point, fans are well and truly warmed up, with the first few crowd surfers already having ridden the wave of arms below and made it to safety. The band themselves dutifully play on, rarely interacting with the crowd bar an occasional comment on whether a song is old or new. Occasionally, vocalist Parker Cannon raises one arm in the end as if to emphasise a lyric or control the crowd, but for the most part, he stands priest-like and commanding, a stoic contrast to the bedlam below. The Story So Far may have been together for many years, but they still look somewhat awkward on stage – almost as if they’d been placed there last minute and asked to perform. The fact Cannon often has his hands in his pockets or is otherwise clutching his t-shirt or a can of beer also doesn’t help. The crowd, on their part, don’t seem to mind in the slightest.
Each track is met with effusive uproar, whether it’s the pop-tinted ‘Out of It’ and ‘Proper Dose’ or the relentless ‘Things I Can’t Change’ and ‘Solo’. Whether a track is old or new, the crowd welcomes it even more enthusiastically than the last.
‘Nothing to Say’, a track off I Want to Disappear, is a definite highlight in the show. Its full-pelt drumming provides the essential rhythm for some much-needed therapeutic headbanging. In fact, the effusive movement from the crowd barely stops throughout the entirety of the show. But one of those rare moments of rest is the reflective ‘Upside Down’, where the headbanging comes to an abrupt halt, allowing for gentle swaying and head-bobbing instead. But with ‘You’re Still in My Way’ up next, the peace is short-lived.
Although classics ‘Quicksand’ and ‘Empty Space’ are noticeably absent from the setlist, ‘Roam’ gives the crowd one last chance to let out all their pent-up rage as they bellow its angsty chorus in unison: “You have no idea how unproductive it is to fall in and out of love as often as I do!” The song’s conversational bridge is also a moment of unity, as the crowd sing along to Cannon’s lyrics while guitarist and backing vocalist Kevin Geyer replies in earnest.
It’s an unusual way to finish a show for sure, but it works well
The show could have ended there, but instead, they play ‘White Shores’, the closest thing The Story So Far have to a ballad. It is also the only time an acoustic guitar can be seen during their set. As the phone lights come out – as well as a few furtive lighters – the sweaty crowd performs a heartfelt singalong while enjoying the comedown from the ruckus. It’s an unusual way to finish a show for sure, but it works well. It also means that when the crowd eventually flows out of the venue, they are no longer quite as breathless and spirited as they had been five minutes earlier.
The Story So Far’s Oxford show is fun, there’s no doubt about it. But compared to their peers, The Story So Far lack stage presence. But what they lack in stage presence, they make up for with an exemplary crowd. They may not be the best live band in the world or even in the scene, but what they can do is provide the soundtrack for a cathartic night out and an environment in which to scream, shout, mosh, and have a rollicking good time.
Words and photos: Sophie Flint Vázquez
TrueStyleMusic 