Taking Back Sunday
170 Russell Street
Melbourne, AU
March 21, 2017
Taking Back Sunday have come a long way and I don’t necessarily mean the distance between terra australis and Northern America.
Starting out as a melodic hardcore band with a sound akin to a conglomerate of the best moments of bands like Glassjaw, Sunny Day Real Estate and Thursday and seamlessly fitting in with the direction Tony Brummel was taking Victory Records at the dawn of the new millennium, they eventually made the transition into mainstream territory, with all the shebang that comes with it, including Late Night Show appearances and soundtracking teen dramas.
Despite having crossed the rubicon at the peak of the emo explosion along with bands like Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance and Panic! At the Disco and with the band’s core oeuvre channeling melodramatic teenage angst, tonight’s audience reflected the range of audience Taking Back Sunday appeals to with teenagers mingling with older folks who seemed to have grown up with the band and reunited with them to relive their follies of youth.
Taking Back Sunday is well-oiled live act - polished but devoid of sterility and pretence.
The fact that they seem to have fun performing, the sense of authenticity they convey and their appreciation for the crowd is reflected in the audience’s engagement.
The earlier heart-on-sleeve material of their catalogue got the warmest reception, which goes to show that it has stood the test of time, with a chunkier version of frontman Lazzara holding court with his swagger intact and microphone swinging antics being the focus of the show. His grittier renditions of songs along with his theatrical mannerisms give the whole affair an additional layer of charm.
It seems like Taking Back Sunday is acutely aware what guns to stick to and they play to their forte – meaty riffs, simples choruses and their own brand of catchiness. While the days of youthful exuberance might be gone, their newer songs with more elaborate guitar parts and driving rhythms give their emissions anthemic qualities, which shines through live.
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Photos by T
