Taking Back Sunday is a rock band from Long Island, NY. I attended Taking Back Sunday’s Fourth Annual Holiday Spectacular at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ. The bands supporting Taking Back Sunday at the show were: Modern Chemistry and The Maine.
Prior to the concert, I attended Taking Back Sunday’s pop-up shop inside the venue and saw Adam Lazzara and John Nolan perform an acoustic set with songs of their own and holiday music. Here is the pop-up show’s setlist:
- Jingle Bell Rock
- Faith (When I Let You Down)
- Please Come Home For Christmas
- Tidal Wave
- Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart
- You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch
In between the songs, there was a lot of back and forth conversation between Lazzara and Nolan. It felt more like I was hanging out during a jam session over it feeling like just aquick set and leaving. It was nice that local crafters were inside the venue during the pop-up shop.
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After waiting a few hours in between, I went back to Starland Ballroom to see Modern Chemistry perform. Modern Chemistry has awesome instrumentals, and I had the same thought last time I saw the group open for Mayday Parade back on the “Tales Told By Dead Friends 10th Anniversary Tour.” I have to look into their music further.
There was a short intermission, and the crowd began piling in. I’ve seen The Maine a variety of times including the Modern Nostalgia Tour last month (my experience was further written about here.) The Maine took the stage next playing some old and new hits. Here is The Maine’s setlist:
- Happy
- Bad Behavior
- My Heroine
- Like We Did (Windows Down)
- Run
- Am I Pretty?
- Girls Do What They Want
- Diet Soda Society
- Lovely
- Black Butterflies and Déjà Vu
After The Maine performed and a short intermission, Taking Back Sunday too the stage. I’ve never seen Taking Back Sunday perform, and it will not be my last.
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Taking Back Sunday has an awesome stage presence and sounds as great as they would on an album. The crowd went wild over old and new favorites. Here is Taking Back Sunday’s setlist:
- You Know How I Do
- Tidal Wave
- Set Phasers To Stun
- Error: Operator
- You Can’t Look Back
- Timberwolves at New Jersey
- You Got Me
- Flicker, Fade
- Death Wolf
- You’re So Last Summer
- My Blue Heaven
- All Excess
- Liar (It Takes One To Know One)
- A Decade Under The Influence
- Everything Must Go
- What’s It Feel Like To Be A Ghost?
- Spin
- Cute Without The ‘E’
- She (Green Day Cover)
- Call Me In The Morning
- MakeDamnSure
I was hoping the group would’ve played “Slowdance On The Inside” and “Ghost Man On Third,” but I enjoyed Taking Back Sunday’s set. The energy of the venue was high, and Taking Back Sunday had an excellent lineup and performed excellent. I highly recommend you check out Taking Back Sunday if you have yet to.
Wishing you, my reader, and your loved ones happy holidays. Rock on, stay humble, and be positive!
-ovictoria
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