Review: The Story So Far bring I Want To Disappear In The USA Tour to Columbus

 

Written By Christian Cole, OOTB Publications

2010’s pop-punk icons The Story So Far brought their I Want To Disappear In The USA Tour to KEMBA Live! in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, bringing with them their friends in Koyo and Superheaven. 

The show kicked off close to 7p.m. with Long Island pop-punk up-and-comers Koyo setting the evening off like a hand grenade with their song “I Might Not.” 

They brought to the stage a raw and immediate energy that every opening act should work to hold down, their lead singer beckoning for concert goers to surf past the barricades. 

The band was tight and alive and commanded the room quite well, leaving us all with an air of excitement for what would unfold in the hours to come. 

Pennsylvania-based alternative rock outfit Superheaven took the stage next with a set full of thick, slow riffs and pounding drums. 

With an ambient loop helping to connect the songs of the set and fill the empty air between guitar changes and tunings, I felt totally immersed. The Marijuana smoke intensified as the set moved further and further along, dozens of hands emerging over head with phone cameras facing forward to catch the band as they played their hit “Youngest Daughter.” 

Working their way through an eleven-song set, the band even performed a new song from the upcoming release that is bound for 2025. 

The energy shift between the two opening acts was incredible and the room felt locked in with anticipation for the main course of the evening. 

The Story So Far took to the stage with a notably humble Parker Cannon (vocals) introducing the band as the first few notes of “Big Blind” began to ring out, the first single off their latest album I Want To Disappear, released this year.

From there, the band led the crowd through a 21-song career-spanning set—friends and strangers grabbed one another and thrashed about, shouting lyrics that had shaped so many of us in our youth and onward. 

Every album was represented, they not only played NINE of the ten songs from the latest LP, but they also intertwined another dozen songs from every album prior. 

Under Soil and Dirt being represented with “High Regard,” “Roam” and “Quicksand,” which served as the encore for the evening and saw the crowd enveloped in love and nostalgia for one last moment. 

We got bits of What You Don’t See with tracks including “Things I Can’t Change,” “The Glass” and “Empty Space.” 

Self-titled, one of my all time favorite albums, was shown some love when the band took on “Solo” and “Nerve,” which was inevitably when I found myself hoisted above the crowd, surfing my way to the barricades. 

2018’s Proper Dose saw a few favorites as well with “Out Of It” and “Upside Down.” 

For as still and calm as Parker is, the way he leads a crowd and the energy he brings to a room is so incredible; something that impressed me so much for the whole set. 

Seeing the entire crowd give the new album so much love was a sight to see, and getting to feel each new track mend into the set against the feelings of the songs that us long time fans have shown love to for so many years, was truly beyond expectation. 

The Story So Far is a band that loves what they do and they do it well and one that has proven time and time again that they will continue making incredible music for a very dedicated and loving fan base.

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Band Press Photo: Eric Soucy | Live Photos: Submitted