Thursday and Taking Back Sunday on Sunday, June 19th at the Knitting Factory
I was so excited to see Taking Back Sunday on a Sunday, it was very appropriate for them to play tonight (since it was Sunday). This was my second time seeing Thursday, we manage to catch their last show at the Knitting Factory where they played their album “Full Collapse.” Tonight Thursday mentioned that they were going to play songs spanning their 13 year career. They still have tons of energy and the crowd was way into their set singing along and jumping around during every song. There was even a kid in the front row who made an “I Love Thursday” sign. I absolutely loved their video screen they brought with them on tour! They didn’t use the screen until about halfway through their set but once they did it was really cool. They found old footage of explosives and safety videos from schools, and when you watch those over some rockin’ music it was pretty rad. I love how this band, 13 years later, are still thankful to be out touring and for their fans. They even made the crowd give the opening bands of the night more applause and dedicated a song to them. I didn’t know that at one point Taking Back Sunday and Thursday were on the same record label either; Thursday was talking about how excited they were to see the reunited members back playing in Taking Back Sunday.
A few songs that Thursday played for us tonight included: “No Answers,” “Magnets Caught In A Metal Heart,” “Turnpike Divides,” “Jet Black New Year,” “Sparks Against the Sun,” “Counting 5-4-3-2-1,” “Cross Out The Eyes,” “Fast to the End” and “Understanding In A Car Crash.”
With no monitors in front of them on stage, Adam from Taking Back Sunday made sure to cover as much ground as he could from left to right working the crowd in the front row; squatting down and leaning over. Not to mention he can work a microphone cord like a cowboy can a lasso. It was like everyone in the band had just drank two five hour energies each and were ready to put on a rock show. I was shocked at the microphone action; Adam would throw it at the crowd and yank it back, catching the microphone, before it hit anyone or anything. Granted the band kept their distance on stage from Adam and his microphone skills. Energy aside they sounded great as well. I didn’t realize how important it was to have the reunited members on stage until I looked on Wikipedia and saw that they have had up to 11 people play in the band. They have a color coded chart on Wikipedia for the timeline of band members, there were so many! By the end of their set, there was even a crowd surfer; which is rare at the Knitting Factory. Another cool part about Adam is how animated he is while he is singing. They are a lively band who pack a lot of oomph when they are on stage.
A few Taking Back Sunday songs were heard during their set were: “El Paso,” “Bike Scene,” “Liar,” “Error: Operator,” “Faith (When I Let You Down),” “Existentialism On Prom Night”(Straylight Run Cover)” “Ghost Man On Third,” “Timberwolves at New Jersey,” “MakeDamnSure,” and a handful more.
Final thought was how funny it was to hear everyone singing the Karate Kid songs during the set change from Thursday and Taking Back Sunday. I had no idea how popular they were. Since the show Matt won’t even stop playing… you’re the best around… nothing’s gonna ever keep you down…gesh!!!
Photos courtesy of Matt Auclair.
