Taking Back Sunday, Leeds University
Strolling into Leeds Universities main gig room only a few hours after seeing it being used as the students dinning hall makes you consider just what it must be like having to eat your breakfast in there the next morning… whilst the scent of cigarettes, sweat and alcohol lingers, it’s enough to put you off your own food at home, let alone the people who actually have to eat their early morning snack before a morning lecture…
However, this quite stupid, yet in my opinion amusing topic was not on my brain for long as I took a full on dig in the ribs from my girlfriend as we noticed MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE had already taken to the stage and played a few songs. Taking gig etiquette into consideration (no pushing towards a better view if you’re late) we hovered around at the back, trying to get into the atmosphere which is a really tough thing to do at this venue – it’s a very long and thin room, so if you’re stuck right at the back, you’re in trouble – especially if you’re girlfriend really wanted to watch the band playing. Regardless it did seem MCR were doing a good job of warming up tonight’s sell out crowd, as the group rocketed through song after song have high energetic, infectious screamo. I was a little disappointed to discover I had missed the classic “I’m Not O.K” but the band played enough tracks from their latest offering “My Sweet Revenge” to prove that they are worthy of the attention they get. (7)
After the change over came TAKING BACK SUNDAY. After seeing the band at Leeds festival this year, and to be honest, being quite disappointed, I was hoping for a better performance from the five – piece. I always believe that the second album era is a great time for your favourite band, as they get the balance just right of performing songs from both albums in their allocated set time, and TBS proved that tonight. Playing classic after classic from both albums, and enforcing the argument they are definitely one of the best bands in this genre of music. Although restricted with his microphone hurling antics, Adam Lazzara (complete with pink hair) held the stage well, whilst the rest of the group made use of the lack of swinging mics by moving around more. There was a host of epic tunes played, too many to list, although the decision to play an acoustic track in the encore didn’t seem to be greeted to well by the crowd. Regardless, they were soon on their feet for the bands ender, “A Decade Under The Influence.” (9)
Pete
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