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Taking Back Sunday delivers a special touch

Taking Back Sunday/Thursday/
The New Regime/Colour Revolt

House of Blues
Orlando, FL
July 8, 2011
Thursday
Thursday
The New Regime
The New Regime
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday

Story by Brittany Fornof
Photos by Nick Masuda

Taking Back Sunday made a subtle entrance but an unforgettable exit at the Orlando House of Blues on Friday, July 8. As headliners of the Coca-Cola Presents Taking Back Sunday tour, featuring We Are The In Crowd, The New Regime, Colour Revolt and Thursday, Taking Back Sunday provided their loyal fans with an entertaining, interactive show.

With red lights flashing from above, Taking Back Sunday jogged onto the stage, clapping their hands along with the crowd of ecstatic, screaming fans.

Lead singer Adam Lazarra, with his skinny black plants, black tee, pair of loafers, and a vest featuring the band's emblem "Taking Back Sunday One Five two Est. 1999" on the back, crossed the stage, introducing the band to the crowd. Singing the crowd-favorite "Make Damn Sure" from their 2006 Louder Now album, Lazarra whined, "You start shaking at the thought you are everything I want...'Cause you are everything I'm not." Rubbing his fists into his eyes, Lazarra sung, "You hollow out my hungry eyes."

The band performed some of their most popular songs, including: "Liar, Liar" and "What's It Feel Like to be a Ghost?"

In a fit of passion while singing "You Know How I Do," Lazarra tossed his microphone in the air, caught it at the last moment, and swung the cord. The cord circled around his neck, forming a noose. Lazarra grabbed the microphone hanging at his chest and breathed out the verse, "So sick, so sick of being tired...And oh so tired of being sick."

Before breaking into the next song, Faith (When I Let You Down) from their 2011 album Taking Back Sunday, Lazarra described the making of the album, "There were tears. There were fights. But I think the end result is pretty awesome."

After playing the newly released hit, Taking Back Sunday wiped the dust off their previous albums, and performed several of their previous hits, including: "Error Operator."

With his arms flying around and his brow furrowed in concentration, drummer Mark O'Connell pounded his cymbals while guitarist John Nolan, wearing a blue plaid shirt and boyish grin, echoed lyrics in the background. After parading around the stage, Lazarra crouched on his knees to serenade audience members. Singling out one girl in the crowd, he points a finger in her direction. She reaches her hand out to him. He does the same. Shaking, she struggles to push her hand closer to touch him. He leans forward and grabs her finger, holding his hand there as he continues to sing, "Oh where have you been?"

Unable to get enough of the audience, Lazarra flung his body into the crowd and landed into the pit of fans. Performing within the crowd, Lazarra made his way to the side bar, and with a quick hop, jumped to the top of the bar where he proceeded to sing to the crowd. As the song ended and a new one began, Lazarra pleads with the audience members circling the bar.

"Let's the cut the middleman out," said Lazarra. "Put the cameras down. Why have a screen between you and me? I am right here. I am right here."

With that, he made his way through the parting crowd. Fans followed behind him, feeding him the line to his microphone.

"Thank you Orlando," Lazarra humbly said as he made his way back to the stage.

With their performance, Taking Back Sunday demonstrated the one profound aspect that differentiates themselves from other bands: personal touch. When Taking Back Sunday takes the stage, they don't just perform. They perform to their audience. They perform in their audience. Feeding off the energy of the crowd, Taking Back Sunday delivers emotionally-driven performances, spreading fervor throughout the roomÑzeal for the music, devotion to the lyrics, and appreciation for the tragedy and triumph behind every song.

Related articles:

Taking Back Sunday (Projekt Revolution Tour) - Photo gallery - Tinley Park, IL August 2007
Taking Back Sunday (Vans Warped Tour 2004) - Photo gallery - Milwaukee, WI July 2004
Thursday (Vans Warped Tour 2006) - Photo gallery - Milwaukee, WI July 2006

Thursday
Thursday
The New Regime
The New Regime
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Thursday
Thursday
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Colour Revolt
Colour Revolt
Thursday
Thursday
Thursday
Thursday
The New Regime
The New Regime
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
The New Regime
The New Regime
Colour Revolt
Colour Revolt
Colour Revolt
Colour Revolt
The New Regime
The New Regime
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday

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