Taking Back Sunday at Ace of Spades

August 2, 2017November 22, 2017 Lindsay Marshall 0 Comment Ace of Spades, Sacramento, Taking Back Sunday

Taking Back Sunday was playing a show at Ace of Spades in Sacramento one night while one of my best friends Biz was visiting me in California from Jersey for a little over a week. You may remember him from all of my Coheed and Cambria stories.

Taking Back Sunday was one of the bands that got me into music at 12 years old, so I absolutely adore them and did not want to miss this show. I was afraid I was dragging Biz against his will because he was prepared to only know about 10% of their music, but he was down to join me regardless. Sweet.

Modern Chemistry and Every Time I Die opened the show. However, Biz and I met with another East Coast friend who happened to be nearby for the week as well for drinks and dinner, thus missing the openers. We got to the venue just in time for Every Time I Die’s last song. I spent it in the bathroom.

The way I see shows: Pit or rail, there is nothing else. So Biz said if he lost me he’d look for the pit. It’s never quite that easy, is it?

They opened with “Tidal Wave.” I immediately fell through the crowd and found myself in the third row. I didn’t realize how small the venue was until frontman Adam Lazzara’s face was like RIGHT THERE.

I stayed in the front for a bit, but there was no pit and Biz had stayed back. Don’t get me wrong, I was trying to start pits, but I was basically just being an asshole at this point. Welp.

They started playing “Error: Operator,” which is a song that NEEDS a pit. I started one, but I was definitely just annoying everyone else around me. I’m shoving and dancing and they’re all just like whatever. Boring.

So I kinda gave up and went back to try to find Biz again. I saw him and stuck my face in his face and it took him a minute to realize it was me. I went back toward the middle of the pit and he acted like he didn’t think people would let him through. I’ve never had a problem with that, but again, I’m an asshole, and a 100 lb. female. Eventually we did get a pretty good pit going, so he was able to join me.

A girl and guy in the pit recognized me from Emo Nite and the girl was surprised I came out to Sacramento for this.

Me: “It’s Taking Back Sunday!”

They were a lot of fun and moshed with me. But the guy was wearing glasses. He was so not prepared for a pit.

They covered Green Day’s “She” and I died. My heart could not take it. Those are the two bands that got me into music. UGH I LOVE IT.

“Spotify hasn’t figured out how to pay us, but they made a good documentary.”

There was so much confetti throughout the show. Supplied by the band this time, not me. First during “Tidal Wave” then another two times.

Biz was getting into it, fan of the band or not. He launched someone off his back to crowdsurf at one point.

I was probably the craziest person in that pit once it really got going. I can’t help it, I love Taking Back Sunday.

I love Adam’s dance moves. So much mic swinging, but not as much as I remember from the one prior time I’ve seen them live.

Right before “Cute Without the E,” Adam told us to cheer like they’d just played the best song ever, then he’d announce the last song, walk offstage, and we’d chant “TBS” or something, and he’d come back onstage to play two more.

He literally explained the entire “encore” process before finishing the main set. Obviously we started the chanting too early and he gave us shit for it.

Emo Nite guy: “Fuck you, one more!”

“People always ask why we never play anything from New Again. And they’re right. So here’s ‘Better Homes and Gardens.'”

Okay but can we please get “Sink Into Me” at some point?

They closed with “MakeDamnSure.” Ugh. So good. Such a good show. I was mostly pleased with the set they played overall.

Tidal Wave
You Know How I Do
Error: Operator
You Can’t Look Back
Set Phasers to Stun
Flicker, Fade
Timberwolves at New Jersey
Call Come Running
Liar (It Takes One to Know One)
Death Wolf
One-Eighty By Summer