Taking Back Sunday, Southampton Guildhall (From Daily Echo)

Taking Back Sunday, Southampton Guildhall

12:03pm Wednesday 7th September 2011 in Music Reviews

IT’S been almost 10 years since New Jersey pop-rockers Taking Back Sunday exploded onto the music scene with debut album Tell All Your Friends.

Yet, despite the passing of time, the 2002 release is still serving as the soundtrack to a young generation.

While many of the fans that held TAYF so dear at the time are notably absent tonight, it doesn’t seem to matter.

The crowd may have been barely teenagers when the ten-track dropped, but they have clearly been doing their homework. Songs such as You Know How I Do, There’s No ‘I’ in Team and You’re So Last Summer are affectionately received.

“We lost track of one another for a while”, says frontman Adam Lazzara speaking of guitarist/vocalist John Nolan and bass player Shaun Cooper’s break from the band to play in Straylight Run.

With the pair TBS members once again, any previous tensions have seemingly disappeared as they inject new life into Straylight Run’s Existentialism on Prom Night.

Lazzara is on usual showmanship form as he twirls his mic into the air with nerve-inducing skill.

With just three songs showcased from their fifth and most recent album - including current single Faith (When I Let You Down) - the band delivers somewhat of a greatest hits show, delving into their extensive back catalogue to play Error Operator and Set Phasers to Stun.

It’s the anthemic Cute Without The ‘E’ that really drives the audience wild, though, proving it can stand the test of time.

By Sarah Cartlidge