The American rock veterans return to London city with their thrilling performance.

We are in for a treat on this Thursday night. It’s still far from Sunday true, but Friday is just around the corner and that only amplifies the excitement amongst the buzzing crowd. Black Foxxes and Frank Iero & The Patience do an amazing job with warming up the audience, who is now even more than ready to see the post hardcore band.

The last 15 years have seen the Long Island legends release seven studio albums alongside going through some changes in the line-up. Nevertheless, they are one of those bands who remind me about the passing time. I head down to the show and it’s like I’m back in high school again, just chilling and trying to look cool with heavier-than-I-look-like music in my headphones. The good thing about those shows is that there’s always plenty of people who would feel exactly the same.

15 years it’s been, and Taking Back Sunday can still pull off a pretty good performance.

Kicking off big with hard-hitting Death Wolf, taken from their last year’s album Tidal Wave, the high-energy mood is quickly set. As they move on smoothly intertwining recent offerings (You Can’t Look Back) with some old-school tunes, such as Liar (It Takes One To Know One), the message is sent – it’s gonna be big and it’s gonna be loud, and there are gonna be goods for old fans as well as newer ones.

“It’s a pleasure to be here. Do you want to hear Johnny play his guitar? That’s what dreams are made of”, we hear from vocalist Adam Lazzara after the band spins Timberwolves At New Jersey and proceeds with next track What’s It Feel Like To Be A Ghost?.

Taking Back Sunday clearly haven’t lost their ability of creating powerful punk-infused hooks over the years. On point crushing guitar riffs, courtesy of John Nolan and Eddie Reyes, along Shaun Cooper‘s sassy bass lines lead the tracks whilst Mark O’Connell‘s keeps a tight rein on the rhythmical structure with his precise drum work.

In spite of struggling to reach high notes at times, Lazzara’s rough vocals deliver, even if it appears that the audience is doing the job for him. However, his expression and stage presence are the kind a lot of frontmen would envy. From jumping all over the place to using microphone wire as a lasso (don’t do it at home, I bet a few have been hit in the past), to being extremely polite when referring to the crowd as “ladies and gentlemen” each time. The tenacious vocalist dominates on stage but that doesn’t weaken the dynamics between all members nor diminish the entire live experience.

Tonight’s set is clearly contrasted as the massive choruses of the band’s recent material leave a huge mark. 2014’s Happiness Is is brought to life by swaying Flicker, Fade and sharp Stood A Chance whilst the massive sing-along during Better Homes And Gardens makes the singer says: “You guys are alright. Thank you very much”.

Last year’s Tidal Wave serves melodic punk-rock that translates into live format effortlessly. Enhanced by a few stories about how they made “rock and roll” video for Call Come Running or how Slam Dunk Festival experience (and a lot of rain) from a few years back made them write All Excess, the show leaves an impression of the old friends reunion.

Overall the nostalgia soaks through significantly. Taking Back Sunday excel in serving that edgy growling attitude with every punch of a track. The tunes taken from their 2002 debut full-length Tell Your Friends are the ones with the loudest screams. Simply a plethora of fan favourites such as You Know How I Do, Cute Without The ‘E’ (Cut from the Team) or mega jam You’re So Last Summer. What’s more, My Blue Heaven and Error: Operator (Louder Now 2006) are being tagged along the way and I realise that it doesn’t matter what song the band will play because the crowd seems to know all their lyrics anyway.

“I would like to let you know how blessed we are sharing this stage. We’re not gonna do the thing. You know ‘the thing’? Going off the stage and coming back. This is our last song”, Lazzara says as  MakeDamnSure sets a grand finale to their 18-track long  performance.

It was big and it was loud, and let’s hope they will make damn sure to come back soon. As they do.

Photos: Kasia Osowiecka