Silverstein and Story of the Year Bring Camp Screamo to Kansas City

6 hours ago

Silverstein at the Voodoo Lounge in Kansas City. Phoot by Josh Chaikin

For elder Millennials, the Camp Screamo Tour felt less like a nostalgia trip and more like a celebration of a scene that never really went away. Bringing together Canadian post-hardcore veterans Silverstein, and St. Louis’ own Story of the Year, alongside rising stars Origami Angel and Ally Nicholas, the packed Voodoo Lounge at Harrah’s Kansas City proved that emotionally charged, high-energy rock still commands an audience every bit as passionate as it did twenty years ago. And the room was already packed long before anyone took the stage.

Opening the evening was Ally Nicholas, delivering a set that’s a blend of alternative rock and deeply personal songwriting. Ally quickly won over the early arrivals. While many in attendance were undoubtedly there for the evening’s headliners, Nicholas’ performance served as a reminder that every established act started somewhere, delivering an powerful and energetic set that set the tone for what was to come; complete with crowdsurfing.

Washington, D.C. duo Origami Angel followed with a whirlwind performance that blurred the lines between emo, pop punk, math rock, and hardcore. A powerful performance, with an incredible sound produced only by a drummer, and guitarist/vocalist. If Ally lit the match, then Origami Angel was the quick burn headed towards the powder keg.

Silverstein took the stage first among the co-headliners, demonstrating exactly why they’ve remained one of post-hardcore’s defining acts for more than twenty-five years. Frontman Shane Told showed little sign of slowing down, alternating effortlessly between soaring clean vocals and signature screams while maintaining constant engagement with the crowd.

The band’s set leaned heavily into fan favorites while still acknowledging newer material, with classics like “Smile in Your Sleep,” “My Heroine,” and “The Afterglow” drawing thunderous singalongs. “Infinite” showcased the band’s continued evolution, while “The Altar/Mary” and “Sacrifice” highlighted the heavier side of their catalog. By the time the closing notes rang out, Silverstein had reminded everyone why they remain one of the genre’s most consistently compelling live acts.

As impressive as Silverstein was, Story of the Year arrived with the advantage of something resembling a hometown crowd. While Kansas City may technically belong to Missouri’s western edge, the St. Louis natives were welcomed like returning heroes, and the audience responded accordingly from the moment they stepped onto the stage.

Opening with “And the Hero Will Drown,” the band wasted no time igniting the room. Vocalist Dan Marsala remained a bundle of kinetic energy throughout the evening, while guitarist Ryan Phillips frequently took to the air, delivering the kind of acrobatic performances that helped define the band’s early reputation. Even after more than two decades, Story of the Year’s live show remains refreshingly physical, feeding directly off the crowd’s enthusiasm.

The set balanced newer material with the songs that first put the band on the map. Tracks like “Anthem of Our Dying Day,” “Until the Day I Die,” “Take Me Back,” and “In the Shadows” inspired wall-to-wall singalongs, while “Real Life” demonstrated that the band’s newer output sits comfortably alongside the classics. E

The Camp Screamo Tour succeeds because it isn’t simply revisiting the past. Silverstein continues to release ambitious new music, Story of the Year has experienced a creative resurgence in recent years, and Origami Angel represents the next generation carrying those influences forward. Rather than feeling like a reunion of a bygone era, the evening showcased the continued vitality of a genre that has evolved while remaining true to its emotional core.

For one night at the Voodoo Lounge, nostalgia may have brought many fans through the doors, but the performances made they left reminded that these bands remain every bit as relevant, and every bit as electrifying, as ever.