|
Story of the Year began as Big Blue Monkey in St. Louis, Missouri. At the time
(the late '90s), the band's sound was much heavier (think Deftones), and the lineup that would become Story of the Year was
not yet in place. Big Blue Monkey played frequently in and around St. Louis, issued a few EPs, and endured the lineup fluctuations
typical to any struggling combo. Creative and persistent self-promotion caught the ear of producer John Feldmann, who in turn
brought Maverick Records into the picture. By 2002, Big Blue Monkey had become Story of the Year, moved to Southern California,
and toured with Feldmann and Goldfinger. The lineup of vocalist Dan Marsala, guitarists Ryan Phillips and Phillip Sneed, bassist
Adam Russell, and drummer Joshua Willis entered the studio with Feldmann, emerging in spring 2003 with the full-length Page
Avenue. Story did some Warped Tour dates that summer, and issued the record the following September. By this point the Story
sound had morphed completely and comfortably into emo-inflected post-grunge, akin to groups like Thrice or the similarly Feldmann-shepherded
Used.
Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide. |
