Story Of The Year & Silverstein Bring Camp Screamo to Life in San Diego

Some shows are worth every mile it takes to get there.

Camp Screamo 2026 rolled into The Observatory North Park in San Diego on July 25 for a night that celebrated two of post-hardcore’s most enduring names, with Story Of The Year and Silverstein sharing headlining duties. Rounded out by opening performances from Origami Angel and Ally Nicholas, the evening delivered nostalgia, chaos, and enough energy to make the long trek south feel like nothing more than part of the adventure.

Story Of The Year

If there was ever any doubt that Story Of The Year still have one of the most explosive live shows in the genre, they erased it before the first chorus had even finished.

Launching into “And the Hero Will Drown,” “Gasoline (All Rage Still Only Numb),” and “Tear Me to Pieces,” the band wasted absolutely no time setting the tone for the evening. Every member attacked the stage with the same intensity they’ve become known for over two-plus decades, and somehow they continue to find ways to raise the bar every time I see them.

I’ve had the privilege of covering Story Of The Year three times now, and they remain one of my all-time favorite bands in general, as well as one of my favorites to photograph. No matter how many times I watch them perform, I’m always reminded why they hold that spot. The energy they generate onstage is simply unmatched, feeding directly into the crowd until the entire room feels like one giant pulse.

After knocking out the first few songs and grabbing a couple of wide shots from the back of the venue, I couldn’t resist any longer. Camera in hand, I headed straight into the circle pit—not just to capture the chaos, but to become part of it. Story Of The Year is one of those rare bands that makes it nearly impossible for me to stand on the sidelines. Sometimes the best way to photograph a moment is to throw yourself directly into it, and this was absolutely one of those nights.

Throughout the set, vocalist Dan Marsala kept things fun between songs. Before introducing “2005,” he joked, “Don’t worry, my mom loves this song, ’cause she was hot in 2005,” earning laughs from the packed room. Later, the band paused to lead the entire venue in singing “Happy Birthday” to their drum tech, TJ, turning a quick moment into one of the night’s more memorable interactions.

One of the biggest surprises came when actor and friend Eman Esfandi—best known for portraying Jedi Ezra Bridger in the Disney+ series Ahsoka—joined the band onstage during “Fall Away.” Lightsaber in hand, Esfandi helped deliver the song while putting on an impressive display of lightsaber choreography that had the crowd eating it up, making for one of the night’s most unexpected and memorable moments.

The set itself was a perfect blend of old and new, weaving old favorites like “Anthem of Our Dying Day,” “Until the Day I Die,” and “Choose Your Fate” alongside newer material including “War,” “2005,” “Disconnected,” and “3 am.” One of the night’s biggest crowd reactions came during a wildly entertaining mashup that fused Korn’s “Blind,” Deftones’ “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away),” and Blink-182’s “All the Small Things.” The entire venue erupted as everyone tried to keep up with each unexpected transition, creating probably *the* most electric moment of the evening. 

By the time “Until the Day I Die” brought their set to a close, there wasn’t much left to prove. Story Of The Year once again delivered exactly what they’ve built their reputation on: an unforgettable live performance that leaves every ounce of energy on the stage. Somehow, they continue to outdo themselves, and I’ll happily keep showing up every chance I get.

Silverstein

As incredible as Story Of The Year’s performance was, Silverstein proved they had no intention of letting the night’s momentum slow down.

Walking onto a stage decorated with Camp Screamo branding and visuals inspired by album artwork, the band fully embraced the tongue-in-cheek summer camp theme. Dressed in scout-inspired camping attire, they immediately transformed The Observatory into their own version of organized chaos.

Opening with “Negative Space,” the band wasted no time setting the pace for the rest of the night. The newer track fit seamlessly alongside longtime staples, immediately reminding the crowd that even after all these years, Silverstein continues to evolve without losing the intensity that has made them one of post-hardcore’s most enduring acts.

One of the night’s more memorable production moments came later in the set before “I Am the Arsonist.” The classic Smokey Bear “Only you can prevent forest fires” PSA played across the backdrop, drawing laughs from the crowd before the band slammed into the song. It was a clever nod to the Camp Screamo theme that landed perfectly and only added to the energy already filling the room.

From there, everything became something that was harder to document than it was to simply experience.

Like Story Of The Year before them, I found myself abandoning any attempt at standing comfortably in the back. It didn’t take long before I was back in the circle pit, camera in hand, fully immersed alongside everyone else. This wasn’t the kind of performance where you stood back quietly taking notes. It was the kind that demanded participation. Most of my time was spent chasing crowd shots, weaving between spinning bodies, and trying to freeze tiny pieces of the madness unfolding around me while also taking in every second for myself.

This marked my second time covering Silverstein, though I’ve honestly lost count of how many times I’ve seen them perform over the years. They’re another one of those bands that permanently occupy my list of all-time favorites, and every show reinforces exactly why.

The setlist balanced beloved classics with newer material effortlessly, something Silverstein has always managed to do better than most bands with a catalog as expansive as theirs. They have a way of pulling from every era of their career without making any part of their history feel overlooked.

After seeing them on the 25 Years of Noise Tour, where they somehow fit what felt like their entire discography into one massive career-spanning set, I honestly wasn’t sure how they would top that experience without playing a set just as long. Somehow, they found the perfect balance once again. Songs like “Smashed Into Pieces,” “Your Sword Versus My Dagger,” “My Heroine,” “Smile in Your Sleep,” and “Bleeds No More” had longtime fans screaming every word, while newer tracks including “The Afterglow,” “Stress,” “Infinite,” and “Bad Habits” fit seamlessly alongside them.

That ability to honor where they’ve been while continuing to make new material that feels just as essential is one of the things that has kept Silverstein relevant for more than two decades. No matter which era of the band brought someone into the fold, there was something in this set that felt like it was meant specifically for them.

What stood out most wasn’t any single song—it was the feeling the entire performance created. The atmosphere inside The Observatory was relentless from beginning to end. Circle pits rarely slowed, crowd surfers continuously poured toward the barricade, and every chorus felt louder than the one before it. It became one of those rare sets that’s almost impossible to accurately describe because you’re too busy living inside the moment to stop and analyze it.

Sometimes those end up being the most memorable shows of all.

Six hours in the car thanks to Southern California traffic, a night spent car camping in true Camp Screamo fashion, and another four-hour drive home the next morning is admittedly a lot to ask for one concert.

I’d do it all again without a second thought.

I’m equally excited—and admittedly relieved—that Camp Screamo will be returning this fall for a second leg with a Los Angeles stop much closer to home. Hopefully I’ll once again find myself photographing these two incredible bands because, no matter how many times I see or cover Story Of The Year and Silverstein, I never seem to get enough.

Some bands simply never lose what makes them special.

These two are living proof.

We’d like to thank both Silverstein and Story Of The Year for having us at the campout!

Be sure to catch them on one of the remaining dates near you! 

Story Of The Year :

Silverstein :