Very few of the fans packing the main floor of the cavernous venue on Monday night seemed to be interested in seeing both bands in the lineup. During Story of the Year’s (SOTY) set, I overheard several fans whining, “Are they done yet?” as they milled about in the wings of the Pageant. Clearly, they were not amused by the frenetic yet melodic metalcore of the St. Louis-based quintet.

 

As headlining act Flyleaf took the stage to chants of “Story, Story,” I realized that just as many fans were there strictly for their hometown heroes. Flyleaf’s pint-sized singer Lacey Mosley prefaced their fourth song by saying, “This is our love song to Jesus Christ,” which sent several folks to the exits. But by that time the crowd had already thinned considerably.

 

The polarization of the audience was evidence that the two acts make a bit of an odd couple for a tour. SOTY frontman Dan Marsala mentioned that he had to tone down his profanity during the performance, and I had a hard time thinking it was a joke. Instead, I was left wondering if it was a concession to Flyleaf’s Christian fanbase.

 

Frankly, the idea of SOTY opening for Flyleaf seems a bit absurd to me. The band’s maniacal stage presence is overwhelming, and even though Flyleaf came equipped with a grandiose light show and theatrical stage dressing, they had a hard time delivering the same level of energy. Mosley has a powerhouse of a voice, but she comes across as a pocket-sized Amy Lee in Hot Topic gear, even when perched atop the risers at the front of the stage. Bearded Flyleaf bassist Pat Seals was the visual anchor to their set. His hair flapped around as he leapt to and from his own riser, while the rest of the band toiled away in the darkness.

 

Clearly, the night belonged to the local boys. Their set was loose and full of inside jokes, shout outs and sing-along choruses. Marsala commented that the people in St. Louis were more beautiful than in the other cities they’ve played and dedicated their 2003 hit “Anthem of Our Dying Day” to the old-school fans in attendance. Kids as young as 6 were spotted headbanging, and SOTY delivered songs from the newest album The Constant before closing with (predictably) “Until The Day I Die.”

 

Bassist Adam Russell leapt from the stage to the tabletops ringing the pit and eventually ended up standing on the bar at the back of the venue. SOTY’s proud local fans screamed out the final choruses of the band’s breakthrough hit before giving the band a roaring ovation. Soon, dozens of those same fans were out the door. Poor little Lacey Mosley never had a chance. Better luck on the rest of the tour, kids. | By Corey Woodruff