Yesteryear doesn’t seem that far away. Taking Back Sunday returns to South Florida with a sellout crowd and a rockin’ new album along with co-headliner The Used.

April 26th, 2014

March saw the release of Happiness Is, Taking Back Sunday’s new album, along with recently released single, “Flicker, Fade.” Co-headlining a North American tour with The Used, TBS delivered their new sound the best way they know how- sold out shows and margaritas.

“If I can get a margarita crowd surfed to the stage,” breathlessly puffed lead singer, Adam Lazzara, “that would really make my night.” And one by one a steady line of frozen margaritas lined the way to Lazzara’s awaiting hand; a simple, thankful gesture from a patient and loyal fan base for the release of a new record. If I knew even a drink would have trouble passing through this crowd, I would have come more prepared.

I couldn’t walk a block without someone assuring me that I would need to buy his or her ticket in order to watch Taking Back Sunday and The Used. It reminds us why we hated high school. SOLD OUT were the only visible letters outside the box-office window of Revolution Live.

The show was held in the heat and humidity that comes with every Floridian summer’s dawn. A packed show didn’t help dry the sticky air. The show, too large to be contained to the usual inside venue, was held in the open sky of America’s Backyard. Taking Back Sunday played as though they were at a hometown show. In addition to old favorites like “Timberwolves in New Jersey,” they also played what Lazzara claims to be his favorite Taking Back Sunday song, “Better Home and Gardens.” The song is exemplary in providing proof of how far the band has come in terms of maturing their sound. The riffs are still heavy, but the harmonies leave you lingering like smoke, uncurling from a cherried cigarette. This show was far from typical as the music stopped for what seemed like band banter.

Then emerged an excited yet contained young man with a GoPro camera fastened to his head. He maintained a pond duck appearance, but I could tell, under the water his feet were kicking. He humbly brought his girlfriend of seven years on to the stage to ask the one question every slightly frightened guy in a relationship must feel before the words are out and it is official. Cell phones were raised and the people were quietly straining to hear what David Davila’s future wife would say. “She said yes!” boomed from Davila’s microphone. Two lives started a new path tonight while two bands added new milestones to theirs.

I have never had the pleasure of seeing The Used play live, but after this performance I will never have to say that again. They played two of my favorite songs, “Bird and the Worm” and “Pretty Handsome Awkward,” during a list of hits and rarities. Too often I found myself banging my head along to lyrics instead of snapping a photo. Due to the shapeless mass of a mob I was confined to the VIP area (because I’m complaining, right?) where I saw hometown pop punk hero Ian Grushka, bassist for New Found Glory. Halfway through the set list, The Used played one of their first hits, “Taste of Ink.” Without a half note’s rest, the crowd sang back in full decibels. Even with limited time, due to co-headlining, they came back for a one-song encore, “Box Full of Sharp Objects.”

Both bands had been missed on the touring circuit, and an anxious crowd of thirty-somethings welcomed them back like they had never left.