When it comes to true emo rock fans, Taking Back Sunday needs no introduction–especially with their debut album from 2002, Tell All Your Friends. It’s an album that everyone remembers, with songs like “Cute Without the ‘E’ (Cut From the Team)” and “Bike Scene.” And for anyone who’s ever loved that album, then singing along with those emotionally-charged lyrics is definitely something you’ve done a million times before. Maybe you were you were an angsty emo punk-rocker in the scene. Maybe you were going through a brutal breakup and felt like the lyrics were written just for you. Or maybe TBS is just one of those bands that’s managed to put to words everything you’ve ever wanted to say but didn’t know how to exactly, as in songs like “You’re So Last Summer” and “There’s No ‘I’ in Team” as they sing “And with my one last gasping breath I’d apologize for bleeding on your shirt” and “Best friends means I pulled the trigger. Best friends means you get what you deserve.” TBS’s quotable lyrics are endless, really, aren’t they?
With a rush of emo/rock/alt bands emerging around the same time (especially in and around New York), Taking Back Sunday continued to be one of the top bands in the scene. Their following albums Where You Want to Be and Louder Now proved their credibility, their ever-evolving gusto, their fearless attitude, and it only continued–all the way to their latest album release from last year called Tidal Wave.
Maybe there will always be a sense of nostalgia when it comes to bands like Taking Back Sunday, bringing you back to a time of life when MySpace was still a thing and being in a music scene was the thing. But there’s nothing wrong with that. They were great then. And they’re great now. And seeing them play live (if you’ve never before) is an absolute must.
Webster Hall
7/15
w/ Modern Chemistry
7 p.m.
$32.50