Live Review: Emo rockers Taking Back Sunday prove they’ve still got what it takes
RETURNING to Camden after a hiatus, the popular New York rock band treated the Roundhouse crowd to a mix of fan favourites and new material.
Eight years ago, emo was the thing. The popularity of bands such as Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Panic! At The Disco and The Used boosted sales of black khol eyeliner around the globe.
Every teenager worth their salt wore a band t-shirt and covered their beaten up converse in hand-drawn song lyrics
Every teenager worth their salt wore a band t-shirt and covered their beaten up converse in hand-drawn song lyrics.
But that was then. Flash forward almost a decade and the emo movement seems to have all but dried up. Pete Wentz posters have been shelved in favour of Harry Styles. The angsty rock that once has blared out of bedroom speakers has been replaced with high-street pop.
So I was intrigued when I saw that old-school emo darlings Taking Back Sunday were back in town. Would they still have “it”?
Looking around the Roundhouse in Camden, both the band and their fans look older. Everyone is a little taller, a little wider and complete with a few more crows feet.
After rousing support from Blitz Kids and Marmozets, Taking Back Sunday take to the stage. Greeted by cheers, lead singer Adam Lazzara, twirls the microphone around his head as the band launch into What’s It Feel Like To Be A Ghost.
“This is one of our favourite venues in the whole world,” Lazzara tells the crowd.
The domed room is certainly beautiful. However, with the place not quite full I couldn’t help but think the gig may have benefitted from being in a smaller venue.
With the exception of crowd favourites Cute Without The “E”, Liar and You’re So Last Summer, there wasn’t quite enough, well, sweat for my liking.
Perhaps this was because the crowd weren’t as familiar with their new material or maybe we’re all just a bit too old to mosh.
The moments of the night comes towards the end, as the band close their show with This Photograph Is Proof and breakout single MakeDamnSure.
The crowd finally goes wild, thrashing themselves into one giant circle pit. The energy that has been lacking somewhat thus far has finally arrived.
As every single face in the room screams along, the set is saved.
Perhaps a gym session or two is in order, but Taking Back Sunday haven’t lost their sparkle.