Tidal Wave Release Show
I joke that Taking Back Sunday is alternate universe Lindsay’s favorite band. It’s a long story (not really) that I’ll maybe tell one day, but for now just know that they’re probably somewhere in my Top 20 at least, and have been there since I was 11.
So what better way to spend my 24th birthday than by seeing a band I loved at 11?
Their newest album Tidal Wave dropped ON my actual birthday, September 16th. I was in Chicago for Riot Fest, and they were playing Tidal Wave front to back at one of the after party shows. Yes please.
The show was at the Metro, which is where I saw the Matches over the summer, so I was already familiar with the venue even though I’ve only been to Chicago a handful of times.
There was no opener, so that was pretty cool. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a show sans opening band before. But it was more time for Taking Back Sunday, so I was not complaining. The only problem was that they got a bit of a late start.
Because this was literally the day of the album release, I sincerely doubt many people in that venue knew anything other than the title track. Which I really enjoy. But it’s hard to get into a show if no one there knows…any of the songs. It was a little weird.
But frontman Adam Lazzara expected as much, and thanked us for being there regardless of what they were playing.
“We just put out this record and we’re proud of it and wanted to play it, so I know you’re falling asleep, but thank you for letting us play it.”
I wish I could say he was exaggerating, but we really were falling asleep. Myself included unfortunately. We had all spent the whole day at Riot Fest, and it was exhausting, man!
There were two drunk guys behind me during all of Tidal Wave who just kept yelling “Tell All Your Friends!” I explained to them that this was an album release show. If they were gonna play anything off Tell All Your Friends, it would be as part of the encore. They weren’t happy about that.
EDIT: I am really upset that I didn’t know the album at the time, because after listening to it a few times, I do really love it and would love the chance to see it live again, now that I’m actually familiar with it. -le sigh-
This was my first time ever seeing them live. (Thirteen years later, yeah, I know.) Adam has killer stage presence. I was super impressed. He was constantly dancing and swinging the mic around and just going nuts.
While we might have been falling asleep during the Tidal Wave set, there was a complete 180º shift in mood when the encore started. That room came ALIVE.
They opened the second set with “Cute Without the E” and the entire venue became a mosh pit. Where did you people even come from?!
So many dudes were going HARD and for some reason I really didn’t expect that. I guess I tend to assume people who like the same bands as me would be…more like me? Like…female maybe? But these dudes… Just huge and all over the place, and it was so entertaining to watch, but I didn’t want to be anywhere close to the madness for once.
I tried to stay toward the back of the lowest level in the pit so I was still relatively close to the stage, but in less of a danger zone. Who am I kidding, the entire room was a danger zone at this point.
Ugh so good.
It got really hot in there packed like sardines.
Crowdsurfers were not reading the crowd and that always bugs me a little. So many people got dropped, and I saw way too many people just climbing up backs and jumping. That does not work. Have you ever seen that work. No. It doesn’t. Don’t do it. Makes me cringe so hard.
They played a bunch of other fan favorites like “Liar” and “A Decade Under the Influence,” and closed with “MakeDamnSure.” I was a little sad they didn’t play my old MySpace song “Sink Into Me.” How weird it would’ve been to hear that live on my 24th birthday.
After the show I had to buy some merch, because of course, and the drunk guys saw me again before leaving.
“He told all our friends!”
Featured Photo Credit: Kate Scott (Substream Magazine)
