Taking Back Sunday took to the stage under the cover of dark. Suddenly came the sharp, squeal of guitars and crash of cymbals accompanied by a wall pulsing strobes.  Opening with “Flicker, Fade” from their latest album, Happiness Is, the Long Island group kicked off their performance. Fronted by the unmistakable voice of Adam Lazzara, the band played a 22 song setlist in front of the Town Ballroom’s sold out crowd.

 

Opening for Taking Back Sunday was Letlive, a west coast group with a flair for the dramatic. Led by lead vocalist Jason Butler, the post-hardcore group worked the crowd into a frenzy. Screaming and throwing himself about the stage, Jason sported a leather jacket and an unkempt beard. Known for their exciting live shows, the group did not disappoint. Jason concluded the set by jumping into the crowd and joining the circle pit that had formed. From there, he ran to a corner of the venue, grabbed ladder and carried it up the stairs before propping it against a wall and scaling up to the VIP box in the South of the building. Once there, Jason hugged a fan before jumping down into the crowd below

 

The Menzingers, followed. Less manic but still enjoyable, the Scranton group played through selections from their discography including many from their recent release Rented World. The highlight of their set was the single “I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore” from their latest release.  

 

By the time TBS did take the stage, the crowd was fully engaged and ready to go. Playing through a good variety of their old and new songs, every song was sung from start to finish by the enthusiastic crowd. Also surprising was the enthusiasm the fans maintained for their band’s new material as well as their old work. Clearly the band has managed to stay relevant and continue delivering a sonic experience that is still satisfying to their fan base.