Asbury Park, NJ – Some venues carry a reputation long before you ever step through the gates. On July 12, I finally had the opportunity to experience one of those places as the Camp Screamo Tour made its stop at the legendary Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, New Jersey, featuring Silverstein, Story of the Year, Origami Angel, and Ally Nicholas.
It was about as perfect a summer day as you could ask for. Sunshine, temperatures in the low 80s, and an occasional ocean breeze made the Jersey Shore the perfect setting for an outdoor concert. The beach and boardwalk were filled with people enjoying the weather, which also meant finding parking took a little patience, even arriving early. Once inside, though, it was easy to see why The Stone Pony has become one of the country’s most recognizable live music venues.
The standing-room-only venue offered great views from nearly every spot, while refreshment stands stayed busy throughout the afternoon and the merchandise line never seemed to get any shorter. As the sun slowly began to set behind the stage, it created a backdrop that made the evening feel even more memorable. It was hot during the earlier sets, but the ocean breeze eventually found its way into the venue, making for a perfect summer concert atmosphere.
One thing that surprised me most was the crowd itself. While Story of the Year and Silverstein helped define the post-hardcore and emo scene for many fans in the early 2000s, there were just as many younger concertgoers filling the venue. From the first band to the last, people sang along, crowd surfers constantly found their way over the barricade, and security stayed busy all evening keeping up with the steady flow.
Origami Angel wasted little time getting the day moving. Consisting of just a guitarist/vocalist and drummer, the duo delivered an upbeat set that immediately connected with the audience. Their catchy melodies and fast-paced songs sparked the first wave of crowd surfers and quickly set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.
Ally Nicholas slowed things down for a bit with a style that immediately reminded me of Mazzy Star. Dreamy vocals and a relaxed atmosphere offered a nice contrast before the heavier acts that followed, showing another side of what the Camp Screamo Tour had to offer.
By the time Story of the Year took the stage, there wasn’t much warming the crowd up, they were already with them. Phones went into the air, voices got louder, and it quickly became one of those sets where the audience carried just as much of the music as the band itself.
Anthem of Our Dying Day brought one of the loudest singalongs of the evening, with fans recording the moment while shouting every lyric back toward the stage. Tear Me to Pieces and Real Life kept that momentum going, mixing melodic choruses with the screamed vocals that have helped define the band’s sound for more than two decades. Rather than relying on elaborate production or over-the-top theatrics, Story of the Year focused on what they’ve always done best, playing songs that still connect with people years later. Their interaction with the crowd felt genuine throughout the set, making it obvious why they’ve continued to build such a loyal following.
Silverstein closed the evening with a noticeably heavier approach. Reds washed over the stage, fog rolled across the platform, and the darker lighting immediately shifted the mood. The band’s heavier sound gave the night a different feel while still keeping the emotion that longtime fans have come to expect.
Songs like Negative Space, Infinite, and Bad Habits were met with the same enthusiasm that had carried through the entire evening. Frontman Shane Told spent time interacting with the audience between songs, while more crowd surfers made their way to the barricade and fans continued singing until the very end. Even after a full afternoon of music, the crowd never seemed to lose its voice.
What stood out most about Camp Screamo wasn’t simply the lineup. It was seeing different generations standing shoulder to shoulder, sharing songs that have continued to mean something long after they were first released. Walking into The Stone Pony for the first time, I understood why so many people speak about it the way they do. It’s more than just another stop on a tour schedule. Add a lineup like this, an ocean breeze rolling in off the boardwalk, and hundreds of voices singing together as the sun disappeared behind the stage, and it became one of those nights that reminds you exactly why live music continues to bring people back.
