Senses Fail - The Fillmore - Minneapolis MN - December 3rd 2025

Live Nation and The Fillmore present Senses Fail with special guests Story of the Year and Armor for Sleep

Review and photos by Jesse McKinney

Armor for Sleep

Armor for Sleep opened the night at The Fillmore, and for me it felt more like finally catching up with a band that had been in the background for years. They were part of that early 2000s post-hardcore blur I grew up listening to, even if I never quite went full scene with it. After all that time, seeing them step on stage and actually start into a set I only knew from old playlists was a fun full-circle moment.

You would never guess this is a band that started over twenty years ago and went through a long break. They played with the kind of energy you expect from a group still trying to make a first impression, not one living off old memories. The songs came across tight and confident, with Ben Jorgensen handling guitar and vocals smoothly, which is always impressive to me when a vocalist can sing so well while also playing guitar.

Armor for Sleep kept things tight and to the point, mostly song into song with just a few quick check-ins. No drag, no filler, just a steady build that pulled more people in as they went. If this tour hits your city, it is worth getting there early, they are a strong way to start the night.

Story of the Year

Story of the Year hit the stage with the kind of energy you expect from a band still hungry, not one that’s been at it since the late ’90s. They’ve gone through name changes, eras, and plenty of evolution since their early days in St. Louis, but that mix of post-hardcore punch and melodic hooks still lands the same. Seeing them now, decades after Page Avenue blew up, feels less like a nostalgia trip and more like a band that refuses to slow down.

They set the tone right away by rolling out on razor scooters, waving to the crowd and smiling at the crowd and from there it was full motion the entire set. They moved like a band in their early twenties on their first big tour and not a band that’s been going for almost 30 years!

I’ve been to a lot of shows this year, but Story of the Year’s crowd interactions were the best of the year by far! They spent the whole set making people feel seen, constantly waving, pointing, smiling, and reacting to whatever was happening out in the room. By the end of it, it honestly felt like they had acknowledged just about everyone in the venue at least once. At one point vocalist Dan Marsala even got a kid in the front row to throw up a middle finger to the crowd, which made the crowd erupt and everyone loved it!

I honestly can’t say if I have seen Story of the Year live before this show or not, but this felt like the first time it really clicked. Hearing those songs live with that kind of energy behind them was worth the wait. It is always great seeing a band that has been going this long still clearly enjoying the job, not just running through the motions. Story of the Year played like they are not anywhere near done!

Senses Fail, Story of the Year, and Armor for Sleep performing at The Fillmore Minneapolis. Photo by Jesse McKinney / JLMK Photography.

Senses Fail, Story of the Year, and Armor for Sleep performing at The Fillmore Minneapolis. Photo by Jesse McKinney / JLMK Photography.

Senses Fail, Story of the Year, and Armor for Sleep performing at The Fillmore Minneapolis. Photo by Jesse McKinney / JLMK Photography.

Senses Fail, Story of the Year, and Armor for Sleep performing at The Fillmore Minneapolis. Photo by Jesse McKinney / JLMK Photography.

Senses Fail, Story of the Year, and Armor for Sleep performing at The Fillmore Minneapolis. Photo by Jesse McKinney / JLMK Photography.

Senses Fail, Story of the Year, and Armor for Sleep performing at The Fillmore Minneapolis. Photo by Jesse McKinney / JLMK Photography.

Senses Fail, Story of the Year, and Armor for Sleep performing at The Fillmore Minneapolis. Photo by Jesse McKinney / JLMK Photography.

Senses Fail
Senses Fail closed out the night with a set that felt just as personal as it was loud. Over the years the lineup has shifted around them, but Buddy Nielsen remains at the center, and onstage it is clear why. He was both front-man and storyteller, pulling everyone into the set as soon as they took the stage.

From the first song, the energy was up, and it never really dipped. Buddy stayed in motion, pacing the stage, whipping the mic around, and staying locked in with the crowd the whole time. His vocals sounded strong live, and there was a real emotional punch to the way he delivered the songs. The band kept things tight but not overly polished, which fit their style well. It felt like a show built more on atmosphere and emotion more than anything else and you could tell that’s what the crowd came for!

For me personally, hearing “Can’t Be Saved” was the highlight of the set and judging by the crowd’s reaction it’s safe to assume they probably felt the same as I did! You could hear people all over the floor shouting it back as loud as they could! By the end of the set, it did not feel like a band coasting on old memories. It felt raw, emotional, and very present, and I can’t recommend seeing Senses Fail live enough!