This past Thursday, August 8th emo legends Taking Back Sunday graced Charlotte with a tour date along with support from Citizen. Both of these bands are powerhouse emo/punk bands in their own respects. Citizen with definitely more of a cult-niché following, and TBS with a 20+ year thriving music career. Lets dive into the tour date.
Citizen
As the lights dimmed and the crowd's excitement came to a boiling point, Citizen were greeted by a roar of cheers from core-fans and newcomers alike. The quintessentially raw energy of their performance reminded us why they've been a scene staple for so long. As mentioned, their following (in comparison to Taking Back Sunday) is definitely more niché, even still, following the release of classic studio album "Youth" they catapulted themselves into a bigger spotlight, and harnessed a cult like following based off the band and the record. One could even say that they(along with other bands of that era such as Turnover, Tigers Jaw, Balance & Composure, etc) shaped the 2010s shoegaze-emo-punk subgenre of which is seeing a current resurgence within the music scene. Frontman Matt Kerekes, from his work with Citizen as well as his solo project, has consistently displayed a more than proficient grasp on this blend of genres, and has executed it nearly perfect. While their sound has shifted over the years, Kerekes & band have been able to keep that raw feeling & energy from their older material & organically fuze it with their newer soundscape. And it absolutely works. I've seen this band live once at Riot Fest in Chicago last year. They had a shorter set, but it was a good show. This set was a bit longer and even better. Its clear their great live performances are not going anywhere. If (like me) you are a sucker for gang vocals, big chants, and sing alongs, this is definitely a band to catch live while they are still touring.
Taking Back Sunday
Returning from a 7 year hiatus, emo rock legends Taking Back Sunday released their 8th studio album '152' in 2023, and have been touring (seemingly nonstop) since then. Currently headlining this 2024 North American tour with friends in Citizen. Many dates of this run have sold out, including this Charlotte date. Lets take a step back and see how TBS got here. In 2002, after some lineup changes, Lazzara, Nolan, Reyes, O'Connell & Cooper released their debut album 'Tell All Your Friends' with the infamous album artwork of I-40 in North Carolina(adding a 'exit 152' in small text). Its safe to say despite the bands Long Island, NY startup, that North Carolina has been a geographically special place to the band. 21 years later the release of "152" as a full hiatus return is probably the most apt name choice, and adds to the lore of the band. Frontman Adam Lazarra has embraced his NC roots multiple times when I've seen them in the past few years. With soul-stirring lyrics and heart-pounding beats, they effortlessly bridged the gap between nostalgia and the present, creating an unforgettable experience for the crowd. Last year at Riot Fest in Chicago, IL he even put on a nice "hyperbolized" southern accent, in a seemingly joking manner, though at this performance the accent was considerably less forced. Maybe it was a bit he got tired with? Regardless, his roots were clear this past Thursday, with Lazzara stepping onto the stage exclaiming "Hey, I live down the street!" proudly to the audience. Even his daughter was in attendance, side stage with heavy ear protection(so cute & wholesome to see) seemingly having a great time watching her rockstar dad play to a sold-out quasi-hometown show.
This band has shaped the coming-of-age of countless friends, and (per first hand testimonies{shoutout F, IYKYK}) has changed and saved the lives of many fans via the emotional expression and substance within the music over the years. I turn 30 later this year, and I remember waking up before high school and eating cereal watching FUZE TV, the music video for 'MakeDamnSure' was on heavily consistent rotation. I remember watching Lazzara swing the mic around his neck and thinking "Okay, this band is really good and this frontman has it." From the lyrics of arguably one of their most popular songs, "you have it or you don't." Well they have had "it" since then, and still have "it" multiple decades later. Growing into 40+ year old people, multiple tours, festivals, studio albums, etc etc... takes a toll on anyone. Its great to see this band still selling out shows and thriving as a unit. Its also extremely dope to see legendary bands & artists giving props & looks to the state of NC, which Taking Back Sunday has done proudly since their debut album. While "152" might not reach the popularity of staple albums like "Louder Now" or "Tell All Your Friends" it does showcase the bands evolution, growth, and place again within the active scene. And it does hold its own as a standalone album. I hope to see this band continue to thrive and put out good music & sell out shows.
The tour continues tomorrow in Wallingford, CT and will wrap up 8/21 in L.A. Multiple dates are already sold out, so if you haven't secured your tickets yet, sprint over to https://takingbacksunday.com/tour/ and check availability. Taking Back Sunday will also be performing again at Riot Fest in Chicago, IL in late September. Also stay up to date with Citizen here.
All words/photos by SAUCEWITHSPOONS
@SAUCEWITHSPOONS
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