Taking Back Sunday’s return to the Cleveland House of Blues felt like the reunion fans needed. Much like a group of old friends getting back together after a long hiatus, the band shared stories and memories that charted the course to this very night.
The evening kicked off with Bayside, a band that brought 20-plus years of punk rock history to the stage. Spanning nine albums, the group in its own right created an atmosphere of reminiscing over the music of our youth. At one point getting very intimate with an acoustic rendition of Don’t Call Me Peanut.
Although celebrating the 20th anniversary of their album Louder Now, Taking Back Sunday didn’t sidestep playing songs from their expansive catalogue.
One thing is certain for fans of Taking Back Sunday: lead singer Adam Lazzara is going to put on a show filled with cathartic stage dancing and signature mic swinging. He did not disappoint.
While the band offered plenty of stage banter, the audience was quick to fire back, singing along and belting out lyrics to the songs they grew up with and shared as MySpace profile songs and AOL “away messages.” Rightfully so, as nostalgia was front and center the entire evening.
The band played 22 songs, finally bringing down the house with two icons: Cute Without the ‘E’ (Cut From the Team) and MakeDamnSure, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
