Taking Back Sunday Concert In Columbus, Ohio!

I previously mentioned that I was going to a Taking Back Sunday concert; this is a recap of an amazing time seeing my favorite band, as well as three other quality bands! I apologize for any poor quality pictures – I was enjoying myself too much to take my time with pictures.

Waiting in line! Didn’t mean to snap a picture of the young woman in front of me texting.

My friend and I got to the venue about an hour before the doors opened to a decent sized crowd waiting already. Nearly every person in line was wearing long sleeves or a jacket of some sorts because of the temperatures being in the 50s (Fahrenheit) and a slight drizzle at some points. There was a lot of time to people watch since we were right across from the campus of The Ohio State University (right across from the Union to be exact). It helped pass the time and was some nice amusement.

Finally 7:00 PM rolls around and we are let into the venue. I nabbed a wrist band because I’m 23 and I like to have options. My friend directs us to a nice little niche where we will be next to the pit, but not in the pit; it was still 15 feet or less from the stage. It was a great spot for my old bones. Sadly there were two unenthusiastic ladies in front of us that did nothing but incessantly take pictures of Adam Lazzara (Taking Back Sunday’s lead singer in case you have been under a rock your entire life) and give everyone dirty looks. But that’s another story for another time.

The first band, Lawskof (Check out their Facebook page!), was essentially done setting up their equipment and began playing roughly 25 minutes after the doors opened. They were ready to play. I had never heard of them before, but now I know they’re from Cleveland and are a punk rock band that can bring the energy. I also very much liked their lead singer’s shirt that read ‘Eat Shit & Die.’ I found that very hilarious for some odd reason.

Lawskof from Cleveland. They bring a lot of energy.

After Lawskof finished their set (it was only four or five songs from what I remember), it took about 10 minutes for the next band to set up their equipment. Transit was that band; they’re from Boston. This was the other band I was extremely excited for since I had actually listened to several of their songs for several months (Skipping Stone and Young New England to name two). Transit must have taken Lawskof’s energy and then doubled it! They were fantastic and really got the crowd involved, even though at least half of the crowd had never heard of them before. Those people are now definitely fans of Transit.

Lead singer Joe Boynton absolutely destroying it! He crowd surfed at one point and the crowd went wild.

Transit released a new album Young New England in April and I highly advise you to go buy it right now.

After Transit played their stellar set (several songs, I lost count), Polar Bear Club began to set up their equipment. Polar Bear Club was the second most well known band playing in Columbus that night, and, although I had not heard much of them before a few days ago, I really liked their sound.

Polar Bear Club getting their equipment set up. Their album art work (the image at the back of the stage) is one of the better looking albums I have seen in a while.

Lead singer Jimmy Stadt has a powerful voice. I was absolutely stunned that someone of similar stature as my own could have such a deep strength in their voice like that. It really added to the emotion that the band brought last night. I barely knew the words to the songs (my fault, not Polar Bear Club’s), but I was really enveloped in the crowd that was enveloped by Polar Bear Club. The light arrangements were spectacular as well. Polar Bear Club is in the process of recording an album, so I advise you to ‘like’ their Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter! (Stadt also looks like a close friend of mine, which made me like Polar Bear Club even more.)

Polar Bear Club began to remove their equipment, and the crowd knew that Taking Back Sunday was soon to be on stage. Nearly everyone in the venue was anxious (except the two bland ladies in front of me) and ready to burst of excitement as soon as the members of Taking Back Sunday took the stage. It took no more than ten minutes for Taking Back Sunday to take the stage after Polar Bear Club disassembled their equipment.

Taking Back Sunday taking the stage.

I can’t for the life of me remember what song Taking Back Sunday began their set with, but everyone in the venue went absolutely nuts! (I want to say it was ‘You Know How I Do’ from TAYF (Tell All Your Friends), but that may be me just thinking that they’d begin with their first song off their first album.) After the first song, lead singer Adam Lazzara said, ‘Watch this everyone… O-H…’ and the crowd replied loudly ‘I-O!’

Lazzara said, ‘Works every time I’m in Columbus!’

Guitarist Eddie Reyes tearing it up!

The crowd, including myself and my friend, sang every song in unison with the band. Every chorus, every backing vocals, every lead vocals. Everything was sung by the crowd. It was truly a fantastic experience. Taking Back Sunday played popular songs ‘Cute Without the E (Cut from the Team)’, ‘Liar (It Takes One To Know One)’ and ‘Make Damn Sure‘ (last song of the night), but also played fan favorite songs ‘My Blue Heaven’ (one of my favorites), ‘One-Eighty By Summer’, and ‘What’s It Feel Like To Be A Ghost?’ The band also sprinkled in ‘Catholic Knees’ (the only song off the album New Again to be played – to my knowledge) and ‘Call Me In The Morning’ – which is a fantastic song.

John Nolan playing his guitar, while Adam Lazzara sings.

Each song was as great as the last and I was very thankful to be able to attend the event. It was worth every single dollar and I would do it in a heartbeat.

Bassist Shaun Cooper rocking out. I apologize to drummer Mark O’Connell, I couldn’t get a good picture of you buddy! My bad.

After Taking Back Sunday finished their set, we all cheered and clapped like crazy. The venue started to clear out, and my friend said ‘Hey let’s go hang out by their tour bus.’ I didn’t even hesitate and said ‘Of course. Let’s.’ So we meander out of the venue and head towards their tour bus, which was not far from the venue at all. Several people were starting to gather near the exit of the venue, but my friend and I just plopped down on a slight hill right next to the bus. We were the only ones there right next to the bus. Slowly members of the opening bands started to walk by and place their equipment into their trailers.

After about ten minutes of waiting, guitarist Eddie Reyes started to walk into the the tour bus and I shouted ‘Hey Eddie! You did great!’ He replied graciously with a ‘Thank you!’ But I think I came off as a bit of a weirdo because then I said ‘Eddie I tweeted you a cool picture of you playing!’ He replied with a ‘Um, okay thanks man!’ Eddie, if you’re reading this I am sorry to come off as a weirdo.

After about fifteen more minutes John Nolan moseyed down towards the tour bus and I snapped the below picture with him. Great guy, like all the other members. He thanked my friend and I for being fans. I didn’t catch bassist Shaun Cooper, or drummer Mark O’Connell. I either just missed them or they were already on the bus.

I look a lot taller than John Nolan here, but I’m actually on an incline. My attire isn’t the greatest either.

I can’t remember the exact time but it was roughly 12:30 AM and my friend started to become bitterly cold (it was in the high 40s, low 50s). She was contemplating leaving since we had waited for so long and there was a large crowd waiting for Adam Lazzara to leave the venue. But as we were about to leave, we heard some rustling behind us. I turn around and lo and behold it’s Adam! He had snuck around the crowd and made his way through some yards to make it to the bus without noticing. We asked for some pictures and he politely obliged. My friend is still talking about (and will be talking about) how Adam called her ‘babe.’ He did laugh at a joke of mine, and chuckled at me mentioning how great he is on social media.

I think Adam’s wondering why I wore a cardigan to a rock concert.

It was a blast. I wish all the bands on the ‘So Sick Tour’ the best and safe travels.

Related articles

• 09/08/13 (mjcouvillion.wordpress.com)
• I Will Be Attending A Taking Back Sunday Concert Tomorrow! (chwomp.wordpress.com)
• Interview: Taking Back Sunday (pop-break.com)
• Polar Bear Club – ‘Blood Balloon’ (godfearingyouth.wordpress.com)
• 15 Fall 2013 Concerts You Can’t Miss (kiss951.cbslocal.com)
• Taking Back Sunday – ‘Flicker Fade’ (chwomp.wordpress.com)
• 15 Fall 2013 Concerts You Can’t Miss (v1019.cbslocal.com)

Artist To Avoid: Machine Gun Kelly

Before you begin reading the meat of this post, this type of post “Artist To Avoid” will not happen on a weekly, or even monthly basis, because I normally dislike always dogging on artists and bands, but I believe Machine Gun Kelly warrants a post like this.

This is Richard Colson Baker, or Machine Gun Kelly, or MGK for short.

He sort of looks like a mohawk’d, tattooed version of Napoleon Dynamite with that expression.

He a 23 year old rapper from Cleveland, Ohio.  He receives his moniker from his rapid fire rapping style, which is impressive I will say.  It’s rather humorous that he graduated from Shaker Heights High School (a Cleveland suburb high school) because of the persona he puts out there saying: “I have to hustle just to make it through the struggle but I still won’t let that get me down.” Now it’s *humorous* because Shaker Heights High School is one of the best public high schools in the Cleveland area!  There are so many great opportunities that are provided from Shaker Heights High School,  how is that struggling?

This doesn’t mean that MGK didn’t have a rough up bringing, but he was born to missionary parents and got to travel the world, though that may not be ideal for a young child.  He has lived in Houston, Egypt (where he learned Arabic, which is interesting to know), Germany then back to the U.S. in Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, and then finally landing in Cleveland.  It sure sounds like a lot of travelling and leaving behind friends, but it also sounds like a wealth of experience to be had at such an early age.  Again, doesn’t sound like he’s struggling, but that isn’t the point of this post.

Source for this picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Machine_Gun_Kelly.jpg

Now why should we avoid MGK?

Is it because his music is bad? No, that’s your mind to make up (though I believe it’s uninspired).  Is it because he’s not a positive role model? Again, that’s your choice to decide that for yourself or your children.  Is it because of his idiotic statement that he’s a top 5 rapper? Well no, but he’s really overestimating his rapping ability.  Is it because his fans are destructive, mindless tools? No, again, but his fans are people you should generally avoid.

I want you to avoid him because he is careless with his lyrics.  Off his new mixtape Black Flag, there is a song, Breaking News, where Machine Gun Kelly references an infamous concentration camp, or prison camp, known only as Auschwitz.  Now he didn’t only reference Auschwitz, but he ‘rapped’ this:

Until I’m killing everybody like in Auschwitz

What?  Why would anyone in their sane mind say this (other than to be ‘edgy’)? Does Richard Colson Baker not understand what pain and agony those poor people at the largest Nazi concentration camp went through? Is he a Holocaust denier, or something?  Is this a shot at the Jewish community?

To understand the context of that part of the song, MGK is rapping about how he’s going to be the greatest essentially (what rapper doesn’t say that), and he sandwiches that horrible line in between “Until I make an album like a 2pacalypse” and “Until I’m revolutionary like a Gandhi is” which are relatively harmless lines.  I just can’t fathom a reason, other than to be edgy, why he would add this line of lyrics.

I don’t care if you’re trying to be edgy, be edgy, but don’t be an ignorant twit while trying to be edgy.  His upbringing denotes that he should be relatively intelligent, and have knowledge of the significance of Auschwitz. This is just carelessness.

Regardless of what you think of his music, avoid him because he is careless, tries hard to be edgy, and trots out this false persona that is just so utterly obnoxious.