LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: STORY UNTOLD AT NEW CROSS INN, LONDON 18/05/25
Full photo gallery for Story Untold here
It's heartwarming to be reminded that being a fan is still badass in 2025. Outside the New Cross Inn, a small delegation of committed music lovers waited to be first in and right at the front for Story Untold.
For one night only, Antoni Franco opened the show. The lads clearly hungry for bigger things, this is the sort of act the New Cross was made for. With tons of confidence and spunky, optimistic energy. “We're so excited to be here, thank you for being here with us.” Franco grinned.
There is a sort of dual vibe to Franco's music, when it goes heavy, it really goes off, but there are moments of sincerity too, such as during the beautiful ‘Slow Down’ that could be described as a tear-jerker in the right scenario.
At one point we were told to look at the person next to us and ask ourselves if we would win against them in a fight, and the next minute, being encouraged to find someone to hug. This variety in the vibe made for an enticing show.
“We're here for a pop-punk show and this is about as pop-punk as we get.” Franco introduced ‘LIFE IS BORING’ which did go down well with the room as a whole.
Emi Jeen came all the way from Montreal, Canada with Story Untold for this tour. Only her second time in London, an appreciative crowd was ready for Jeen's unique brand of dark-pop. ‘Should We’ set a sultry tone, Jeen gliding around the stage and singing directly to the front row.
Starting her music career as early as it gets, Jeen was singing in local bars from the age of 7. Her technical vocal ability coming from the training she received by the only singing teacher in her town- who specialised in classical music. The power of this genre and the technique behind it did come across in her vocals that soared in places and were controlled perfectly at all times.
Phone torch lights went up for ‘Tired and Lonely’ and then a singalong commenced for a cover of Radiohead's ‘Creep’.
“I just dropped the first song off my first full length album - released in 2026. I'm hoping to be back here then. Do you sometimes say you’re okay when you're not?” Jeen gave us the context behind ‘I'm (Not) Good’. This track felt like a sign of things to come, an evolution of her sound - but with a more polished feel.
Finishing with ‘Dancing in the Living Room’, a big track that clearly had fans in the room already with several people singing along to every single word.
It's been 6 years since Story Untold's last show in London supporting Between You & Me.
“They just broke up recently. We're still here though,” mused frontman Janick Thibault after opening the show with the fast paced ‘Don't Fall In Love With Me’.
Latching onto the resurgence of early 2000 emo sounds and fashions, Story Untold serve all you could want from an authentic pop-punk show, that particular niche of throwback style feeling both nostalgic and utterly relevant in 2025.
Completing the duo - Drummer Jonathan Landry at one point switched places with Thibault to give us a fun and well executed rendition of the Blink 182 classic ‘All The Small Things’.
“We are completely independent; we don't make money from this project… yet” Thibault explained. His career isn't by any means at the beginning though and his tenacity within the industry is admirable. Starting in 2012 on YouTube, and not knowing anything, Thibault nevertheless looked back at that time as an exciting time. “Sometimes I wish I could go back to that place,” he added.
A set highlight was ‘i luv that u hate me’, a song originally recorded with Sleeping With Sirens’ Kellin Quinn. The duo also delighted with a high energy cover of The Killers ‘Mr Brightside’.
Story Untold are bringing a new/old wave of pop-punk that feels organically grown in the modern world. Online platforms such as TikTok are the new route bands are choosing to take to make an impression on a whole new generation of music fans. What initially could have felt insincere to veterans of the scene is now becoming the new normal and bands like Story Untold are pioneering that route.
The immediately catchy ‘Drown In My Mind’ completed the set. “We know this may not be the biggest room but every one of you being here tonight means the world to us,” Thibault mused. Putting aside musical prowess, that humble appreciation for the fans that gathered is just one reason Story Untold deserve a bigger room for their next trip to the UK. Let's just hope we don't have to wait another 6 years for that.
Words: Imogen Bird
Photos: Florelle Servageon
Full setlist below:
Don't Fall In Love With Me
Lost And Found
Remedy
I'M A-OK
All the Small Things
All The Same (Once A Liar, Always A Liar)
Black Sheep
from the outside i seem just fine
Die With You On My Mind
Delete
Mental Breakdown
Toxic Love
Rehab
All Time Low
Invisible
I luv that u hate me
gxxgle maps
Mr. Brightside
Drown In My Mind