Prior to forming Taking Back Sunday, rhythm guitarist Eddie Reyes played in a number of seminal post-hardcore bands including Mind Over Matter and the Movielife. With the band recording their debut self-titled EP, original bass player Jesse Lacey left the group to form Brand New. Guitarist John Nolan invited his North Carolinian friend Adam Lazzara to play bass, but he ended up on lead vocals and Shaun Cooper came in on bass. After the release of their EP Taking Back Sunday began to tour relentlessly alongside the likes of Brand New and The Reunion Show, which would set the scene for their future touring endeavours.
The band’s full-length debut arrived in 2002 with the tongue-in-cheek and highly transparent name “Tell All Your Friends” released through Victory Records. It was the band’s first taste of commercial and critical success aided by the singles “Cute Without the ‘E’ (Cut from the Team)”, “Great Romances of the 20th Century” and “You’re So Last Summer”.
Following the departure of John Nolan and Shaun Cooper in 2003, replaced by Fred Mascherino and Matt Rubano, Taking Back Sunday opened for Blink-182 and appeared on the 2004 Vans Warped Tour. Soon after came the band’s sophomore release “Where You Want To Be” on July 27, 2004. The album debuted at No.3 on the Billboard 200 and following high-profile appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the Spider-Man 2 soundtracks, cemented the band as a forerunner among melodic hardcore and commercial emo bands. The release was followed again by an extensive and exhaustive tour schedule including stops on the Warped Tour and several North American festivals.
Taking Back Sunday made their major label debut in 2006 with their third full-length “Louder Now” which attempted to capture some of the energy of their distinctive live show. Released through Warner Bros. the album was led by the single “What’s It Feel Like To Be A Ghost?” and resulted in appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
In 2007 Fred Mascherino left the group to focus on his solo album with The Color Fred, citing many the band’s problems regarding writing songs. Taking Back Sunday has subsequently release the albums “New Again” in 2009, “Taking Back Sunday” in 2011 and “Happiness Is” in 2014, along with an EP entitled “Faith (When I Let You Down)” in 2011. Since 2011 the original Taking Back Sunday line-up has returned, playing both on subsequent releases and at live shows.
Prior to forming Thrice vocalist/guitarist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi had played in the rock group Chapter 11 together. Alongside bassist Eddie Breckridge and drummer Riley Breckridge, who knew Dustin and Teppei from school and the local skate park, began practicing together and played their first gig in 1998. The name Thrice was initially considered to be a temporary moniker however the group soon developed a following in the local area and became associated with the name. In 1999 Thrice released their debut EP entitled “First Impressions”, which was limited to 1,000 copies, followed by the full-length “Identity Crisis” in April 2000. Released on Greenfly Records, the album earned the group a significant national buzz, and a percentage of the album’s proceeds were donated to a local children’s charity.
Thrice subsequently signed with Hopeless/Sub City’s who reissued the band’s debut “Identity Crisis” and sent Thrice on tour alongside Samiam. In 2002 the band’s sophomore “The Illusion of Safety” was released to favourable reviews and the group embarked on an extensive national tour in support of Further Seems Forever and Face to Face. Once again a portion of the album’s proceeds were donated to charity, with the label matching whatever the band raised. Due to the success of the album and tour, Thrice caught to attention of major label Island Records, who signed the band and agreed to match any charitable donations.
The band’s major-label debut “The Artist in the Ambulance” arrived in 2003 and charted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200. Led by the tracks “All That’s Left” and “Stare At The Sun” the album found favour across the musical press and Thrice subsequently began playing larger venues, including dates with Thursday and Cohered and Cambria. The full-length “Vheissu” was issued in October 2005 with proceeds going to the Dave Eggers’ charity 826 Valencia and in turn the cover art was designed by Eggers. The album features a much richer and textured instrumentation than its predecessors and was once again supported by an extensive touring schedule including headlining the 2006 Taste of Chaos tour. The EP “Red Sky” followed in early 2006 and the elaborate four-disc concept album “The Alchemy Index” in 2007. The live albums “The MySpace Transmissions” and “Live at the House of Blues” appeared in 2009, succeeded by the studio album “Beggars” in 2009 and “Major/Minor” in 2011.
Saves the Day formed in 1994 with a much different lineup than they have to date. Over the last decade there have been many members in and out of the band the one which has remained from the start is lead singer, guitarist and bass player; Chris Conley.
In 1988, while the band members were still in high school, they had their first release through Equal Vision Records - the album was titled "Can't Slow Down".
The 14 track album was well received on the punk scene and received the rating of four stars from Punknews.
1999 would see the release of the bands second album "Through Being Cool" which was even more successful than its predecessor. It has been cited as being one of the most influential pop-punk albums of all time and it is not hard to see why, as it contained tracks such as "Third Engine".
"Third Engine" has a punchy guitar with a steady paced drum pattern and strong voice from Chris Conley. The style in which Chris sings with has gone on to be the distinctive sound of the band and it is almost impossible to match these vocals with others in the music industry.
As of today the band have released eight albums, their most recent being the self titled 2013 album "Saves The Day". The band have announced that they will be touring with "Say Anything" and will be receiving support from "Reggie and the Full Effect"
The current members of the band are as follows: Chris Conley - vocals, Arun Bali - lead guitar and backing vocals, Rodrigo Palma - bass and Dennis Wilson - drums.
Emo stalwarts Taking Back Sunday are titans of the live circuit. Hailing from Long Island, NYC, the five-piece rockers built a veritable platoon of fans through the energy, dedication and enthusiasm of Adam Lazzara & Co. – and that's a facet of the band, fifteen years deep into their career, that isn't showing any cracks, or any signs of waning in the slightest.
Peppered with bona fide tunes like “Cute Without The E (Cut From The Team)”, “Great Romances Of The 20th Century”, “MakeDamnSure”, “A Decade Under The Influence” and “Timberwolves At New Jersey”, their sets are eclectic masterclasses in pop-punk and emo-rock. Sodden with emotion – obviously a steadfast hallmark – they bound and leap and gallop and screech across the stage, with Lazzara whipping his mic (he famously knocked out their former guitarist a few years ago), and jumping into the crowd with vigour. They're surprisingly down-to-earth fellas, which, for a band renowned for being white-hot sex symbols, is a commodity indeed. If you're looking for a frenetic, sweat-inducing two hours of shoutalong entertainment, Taking Back Sunday will deliver on all fronts. These aren't shows for sitting at the back or standing and doing the awkward head-bob foot shuffle combo.
Thrice was one of the staples of my early to late twenties who I loved listening to between other bands like AFI and Coheed and Cambria. They bring that good hard modern American rock sound to the table that the punk and alternative bands of the time always skirted around but couldn't quite seem to grasp.
I love listening to their music to have someone else express the anger that I feel inside. It brings me to a sense of elation. Their music is matter of taste to most I'm sure, but I believe if anyone takes the time to listen to the lyrics and the intent of the music itself, they may actually appreciate it, even if they don't adore it.
At the House of Blues a couple of years back I had the chance to see Thrice play in a set with a couple other bands of that same genre. The House of Blues has a nice, intimate setting where all seats are good seats, and just some are a little better. I wasn't right at the front but I could see everything, and the energy Thrice brought was both intense and moving. They could bring the audience to their feet screaming, and put them back to sitting and silent. It was an event to behold.
So you want to have a great experience, listening to a great artist? Then you need to go see Saves The Day live, anywhere, any chance you get.
I was able to see them at the Live at Pouzza Fest Montréal in 2013. Of course they performed "At Your Funeral" and the crowd sung along with them every word. We were really feeling that song that night.
Chris Conley's voice is just so angelic and I can feel every words that comes out of his mouth. Of course you know there is not a Saves The Day performance that would be complete without a mosh pit and some stage diving. People were hopping on stage and then back into the crowd. Now how many artist don't mind you rocking out with them as they perform?? Not Saves The Day and that is why you have to see a live performance of them.
I can't put into words how great it is, but the experience is one to be had. I have been rockin with Saves The Day since the beginning and even though Chris is the only original member left I have a place in my heart for all the members.