Taking Back Sunday Celebrates the Grand Reopening of Philadelphia’s Stateside Live
- Kara Maddox
- 20 hours ago
- 4 min read
2000s alt-rock icons Taking Back Sunday just embarked on their summer tour in Philadelphia, PA on May 29, which will continue until June 21 in Madison, WI. This night was no ordinary show, however; it was the grand reopening of Stateside Live!, which now features a massive outdoor stage, and the tickets were even free. To celebrate, pop-punk legends Mayday Parade joined Taking Back Sunday and opener Bayside to deliver an unforgettable first show at the new venue. At the sold out show, Philly fans were a part of a historic night full of early 2000s pop-punk, and the energy never wavered for a second.
Kicking off the night was Bayside, another legendary pop-punk band from the early 2000s. From the very start of the set, the band already invigorated the crowd, especially since they opened with the fan-favorite “Sick, Sick, Sick” as the second song of the set. Bayside’s lively, punk-fueled tracks easily got the fans moving, and soon enough crowdsurfers already started coming through the field. Each member’s undeniable energy was palpable as well, especially bassist Nick Ghanbarian who constantly ran and kicked across the stage. The band concluded their set with their 2005 hit “Devotion and Desire”, and the crowdsurfers kept coming through until the last note. Bayside was undoubtedly successful in fully warming up the crowd for the upcoming double headliner.
Coming up next was pioneers of mid 2000s emo-rock Mayday Parade, who ended up performing an extensive 14-song set. They kicked off the set with their newest single “Blame It On the Youth”, which was released on April 30, and the crowd was already fully invested. The venue started getting especially wild once the band played their hit track “Jersey” right afterwards, as multiple crowdsurfers started coming through one after another. Mayday Parade’s classic pop-punk sound and emotional lyrics, as well as their energetic performance, prove why the band has stood the test of time and has become even bigger since the 2000s. To conclude a set full of fan-favorites, the band performed their biggest hit and 2000s emo classic “Jamie All Over”, and the voices of the crowd boomed throughout the venue as they sang along to every lyric. After Mayday Parade’s set, the fans were already full of energy just in time for Taking Back Sunday.
At 9:15, the lights dimmed for the final time that night as the crowd cheered, anticipating the headlining act. Soon enough, Taking Back Sunday walked onto the stage and opened with their dynamic 2006 tracks “What’s It Feel Like to Be a Ghost?” and “Liar (It Takes One to Know One)”. The fans were already fully invigorated once the set started, and by the second song, crowdsurfers started coming through nonstop and showed no signs of slowing down later. The band continued to play older fan-favorites, like “Set Phasers to Stun” from their 2004 album Where You Want to Be, and more recent tracks like “The One” from their latest album 152. No matter the song however, the fans kept singing, moshing, and crowdsurfing, and it only got crazier as the night continued.
Throughout the night, Taking Back Sunday proved why they continue to be a household name in the emo and alternative rock scene. Their combination of pop-punk and emo rock still resonates with many fans to this day and remains relevant over 20 years later. Not only that, but their live performances fully get the audience engaged, whether they’re a diehard fan or only know the hits. Singer Adam Lazzara is a charismatic frontman as he dances around the stage and swings around his microphone as he delivers dynamic vocals. The rest of the band seem to have unlimited energy as well, especially guitarist Fred Mascherino, a former member from the early days of the band who then became a touring member in 2025 to cover for lead guitarist John Nolan. This time, however, both Fred Mascherino and John Nolan shared the stage, much to the excitement of the fans, and creating a full circle moment for the band.
As the band was getting towards the end of their 18-song setlist, Adam took a moment to thank the fans, letting them know that they are the lifeblood of Taking Back Sunday. He also threw in a fun fact, telling fans that Fred is from Philly and even went to Temple University, to which the crowd cheered in response. For the second to last song of their set, the band performed one of their biggest hits, “Cute Without the ‘E’ (Cut From the Team)”, which immediately got the fans off their feet. The voices of the crowd nearly rivaled the band as they sang along to every word, while others were crowdsurfing or moshing. Ending the set with a bang, the band performed their other hit, “MakeDamnSure”, and the fans kept singing and crowdsurfing until the very end. Taking Back Sunday’s performance proved to be perfect for the opening of Philly’s new venue, and the fans were left with a memory they would never forget.
