Liverpool University Academy, Saturday May 27th 2006

This is the second time in three days that I have stood in this venue, looked around at a sold-out audience of almost 3,000 with over 80% of them under eighteen, and it feels just right, for the future is bright, and yes, I’ve got my shades!

Many other 40 year-olds would feel out of place in here; many are outside waiting for these kids; but for me it’s a re-birth. I still remember being their age and watching Van Halen support Black Sabbath, and Iron Maiden support Judas Priest. I still remember how right it felt, and it set me on a road to Rock forever. I’m still on that road, but tonight it’s good to know that while it’s long, there are plenty joining the freeway.

There are a few support acts to go through, none of whom are awesome, none of whom are bad. Openers American Eyes seem a little not ready for a stage this size, a few months in the likes of the Barfly venues would do them good. Hello Goodbye, however, seem right at home, they just turn into emo disco divas and tear up the floor. You can dance to this band, which means the U18s club floors have been rocking to this lot, expect their next record to breakthrough for sure. Third on the bill is Eisley who are more like an Alt Country meets Emo act, it works on record and the eye candy aspect is good. Highlights of a seven song set are ‘Memories’ and ‘Head Against The Sky.’ Perhaps the female ratio of tonight’s crowd is a little too much, maybe they are too old for the little boys here, whatever the reason but they are the wrong band in the wrong place…

Taking Back Sunday is a band in the ‘right place’ and at the ‘right time.’ They have been standing in the shadows waiting for the right moment, and that moment is now! Current album LOUDER NOW has seen the band naturally go up a gear, without really doing that much different than last time around. Of course, the production on the record by Eric Valentine really lent itself to the studio with the band, but they reproduce that sound with ease in the live arena. They tear straight into the opening track from the album ‘What’s It feel Like To Be A Ghost’ with it’s refrain of ‘Are you up for this?’ Well the crowd tonight certainly is… other notable new songs such as ‘Twenty-Twenty Surgery’ and ‘Liar’ come across better live than in the studio, as does lead single ‘MakeDamnSure’ which is one of the best songs of the year by far.

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Older songs such as ‘Photograph’ are delivered with just as much venom as the newer material. Adam returns to the stage for a solo acoustic ‘Divine Intervention’which is nothing short of stunning, even the harmonica playing is good. The rest of the band return and they end a 16 song strong set with ‘Decade,’ a fitting close to an amazing gig - oh, I wish I was in this band, it seems to be so much fun…

This is the last date on this sold-out UK tour, the biggest for the band so far, and it’s proof positive that the band has come around just in time to ride the wave of the next generation, and the next generation is grooving to the sound of a different drum… Make no bones about it, this is a band on Fire, with songs are made for the stage. Lead vocalist Adam is like Jarvis Cocker meets Mick Jaggar, while being taught how to throw a microphone by Roger Daltry. You get the picture, the guy’s a shining star!

As Mr Adams said in the eighties, ‘Everywhere I go, The Kids Wanna’ Rock.’ They still do!

Jj 2006