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The Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center in Oaktown, California, is an amazing venue of which I had the pleasure of attending for the first co-headling tour I've seen since Blink and Green Day way back when. Just across the street from the Oakland Reservior and directly next to the Museum, one could not ask for a better venue to watch a show, although I could definitely argue OMFUG.

You may call me lame, but I only went to this show for one reason...Taking Back Sunday. Being my second time seeing them, not much new was reavealed about the band except that they clearly like touring with JEW and enjoy the opener, Mates Of State, which I unfortunately missed.

During their set, standout tracks included "You Know How I Do," "You're So Last Summer," and "A Decade Under The Influence." Of course, being a fan of the old material, the newer songs didn't stand out too much; however, the two new songs they played, one of which was entitled "What It's Like To Be A Ghost," were fairly appealing. Adam and crew talked fairly little during the show, but indicated preferences for "Tommy Boy" as well as having beards (Fred's was badass). They closed the set with the appropriate "This Photograph Is Proof (I Know You Know)," at which time I vacated the pit because of delerious fatigue.

Jimmy Eat World's set did not dissappoint, although I was defintely not as pumped for their performance. Not knowing their new material was not as detrimental as I expected, because they played a handful from Bleed American as well as Clarity. Through the course of the set, they stuck fairly close to the new album, including renditions of "Kill," "Sweetness," "Get It Faster," and "For Me This Is Heaven." All in all, they were precise and powerful, but I would like to complain about the excess of pointless chatting from lead singer Jim Adkins; at least holler something political if you have the mic. You probably don't have to wonder, but they closed with "The Middle" -- horrah for MTV.

All in all...good show, but I would only suggest going if you have an intense craving to see one of the bands. Aim low in you expections for the other and you will leave satisfied.






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    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 22, 2005 at 5:08 PM (EDT)

    mercy. eat a dick. do not pursue a career in anything remotely related to writing/journalism/anything of that ilk.

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2005-05-22 16:41:24

    Yo Sleepwalk, you're dead on with that crowd-surfing rant. I almost had my neck broken at a Thursday show by some fat cunt, and from then on I never even try to get very close to the stage because it's not worth it. But, if for some reason I do end up there and somebody goes over my head, I always make sure to twist an ankle at least 180 degrees or cause other bodily harm. It's all reciprocal.

    Posted by mikeinflames on 2005-05-21 00:10:13

    your mother took a crap
    and that resulted in you being born

    strange coincidence

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 20, 2005 at 8:17 PM (EDT)

    john nolan is really overrated. straylight run is absolute crap. at least the new TBS is catchy in some places and doesnt lull me to sleep with its ridicilous piano ballads.........

    Posted by captaincrunch on 2005-05-20 18:51:12

    Crowd surfing at a JEW show is ridiculous.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 20, 2005 at 1:40 PM (EDT)

    amen...crowd surfing needs to fucking die.

    Posted by sleepwalk on 2005-05-20 12:50:12

    I saw this show in Fresno. Taking Back Sunday has some of the queerest faux-frat-jock jackoff idiot fans I've ever seen. They pissed me off more than anyone. Fred is the best part of Taking Back Sunday. Adam is too pretentious while pretending not to be. He narrated the whole show like a flight attendant, ending with "We've been Taking Been Sunday this evening. We're so glad you hang out with us tonite." Spare me.

    Jimmy Eat World put on an excellent show. I saw them in 99 and Jim has definitely honed his stage presence to more rock-star stylings. He's still polite and nice though.

    One thing I can say is that crowd surfers should all be mutilated. During Jimmy Eat World's set they crushed my head an average of one every 15 seconds, literally. Crowd surfing is selfish and pointless, no one underneath you enjoys it, but you enjoy it. Great. I could go smash all the car windows on my street and enjoy it, but no one else would. Therefore, as I try to respect others, I don't do it. That's my rock-show rant for the day.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 20, 2005 at 5:21 AM (EDT)

    Two words: quality control. I think this is the worst review I've ever read.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 19, 2005 at 5:09 PM (EDT)

    the dude from JEW has gotten fat.

    Posted by Benjasaurus on 2005-05-18 21:35:47

    Actually, I still hated Taking Back Sunday even when they were a small band from Long Island.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 at 5:05 PM (EDT)

    oh please, you guys are pathetic. when tbs were just another small long island band you guys loved them. and dont even say that they changed their sound b/c if anything, they became less emo. i hate this band, always have, but you all hate them now b/c they're famous and no longer some small band you can brag that you know. and john nolan left the band? really, when did that happen? (sarcasm)

    just so im prepared, whats the next rising band i need to start bashing soon? saosin? death cab? love them both, but let me know when they're no longer cool. i like to be on top of the latest scene news

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 at 10:02 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    that was the worst review i have read in my life.

    Posted by sethcohen on 2005-05-18 09:31:11

    I mean really, how can this only be the second time you've seen Taking Back Sunday. Was the first time with blink-182 or Box Car Racer. I mean, I know people who detest them who have seen them more than two times simply because they used to tour non-stop and before they blew it.

    Posted by lou on 2005-05-18 01:17:44
    My Score:

    this is pathetic. how does something like this get posted? just stop. please.

    Posted by captaincrunch on 2005-05-17 18:48:15

    The TBS setlist looked something like this:

    -a song where they screamed through most of it
    -a few songs where the singer swung the mic in dramatic fashion
    -a couple other songs that made the young girls in attendance excited
    -another song that featured synchronized screaming
    -a song that the singer inadvertently hit something while swinging the mic

    And didn't MC Hammer call it Oaktown?

    Posted by Archangel on 2005-05-17 18:21:27
    My Score:

    Oaktown? Just kill yourself.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 5:50 PM (EDT)

    Who the fuck calls it "Oaktown"? That's worse than "Frisco."

    Oh yeah, I was there. TBS keeps getting consistantly worse. Bring back John Nolan, and I might give a damn about that band.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 5:49 PM (EDT)

    this guy is a fucking idiot. "at least yell something political". oh shut the fuck up. you like TBS for christ's sake.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 4:59 PM (EDT)

    'i could definetly argue OMFUG'?? What the fuck are you talking about? Someone explain to me, please.

    Posted by ubershep on 2005-05-17 16:26:29
    My Score:

    "Does anyone have a current Taking Back Sunday setlist?"

    Does anyone care?

    Posted by SkolarX on 2005-05-17 15:18:24

    "at least holler something political if you have the mic."

    love them or hate them you have to admit these bands are both pretty much middle of the road type bands who appeal to a broad demographic. spewing their political views will only serve to alienate half of their crowd. if the band isn't political on record you should probably assume they aren't going to be live.
    this show was pretty ho-hum in detroit. nothing too special and tbs hasn't gotten any better in the past few years. i think they take too many cues from thursday and manage to make listenable records but intolerable live performances.jimmy eat world are just boring to be, always have been, probably always will be. just my opinion.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 3:18 PM (EDT)

    Wow, fuck you. Shitty taste man. JEW rawks though m/

    Posted by ghostmonkey on 2005-05-17 13:53:54

    jimmy eat shit. hahaha.

    Posted by perilafterperil on 2005-05-17 13:20:52

    this reviewer should jump off anything, as long as it's more than 30 feet.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 12:03 PM (EDT)

    Does anyone have a current Taking Back Sunday setlist?

    Posted by mikeinflames on 2005-05-17 10:52:01

    TBS are one of my favourite bands
    but to the dumbass who used how many albums they have sold as basis of TBS being better than another band i have this to say
    you can not base a bands greatest on thier album sales
    if you did than N'sync and the backstreet boys are better than any band you listen to
    because both of those bands have sold millions of albums worldwide

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 10:17 AM (EDT)

    this review is terrible.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 10:05 AM (EDT)

    TBS hardworking? No more than any other large indie band with a publicist, booking agent, full assault tour employees, and manager, haha.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 7:25 AM (EDT)

    Wow. A new level of immature reviewing has been reached with this and the Weezer review.

    Keep it stupid!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 5:59 AM (EDT)

    "I only went to this show for one reason...Taking Back Sunday" - Lame.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 5:51 AM (EDT)

    1) "they stuck fairly close to the new album, including renditions of "Kill," "Sweetness," "Get It Faster," and "For Me This Is Heaven."" - only one of those songs is from the new album

    2) "at least holler something political if you have the mic" - JEW are not Anti Flag. Thankfully.

    3) "horrah for MTV." - don't fuck with MTV. You know they love all your favourite bands.

    4) What the hell kind of word is "horrah" anyway?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 4:46 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    all you TBS bashers need to shut up. these guys are so nice, real, and work a lot harder than any of those stupid "underground" bands you rave about so much. TBS is way better than those bands anyway, look how much more copies they sell!!! ha!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 3:53 AM (EDT)

    horrible review - taking back sunday sucks

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 12:41 AM (EDT)

    Moshing to Taking Back Sunday is like jacking off to the Sears catalogue.

    You've obviously never leafed through their "Kitchen Appliances" section.

    -Chinatown

    Posted by ubershep on 2005-05-17 00:39:40

    You should never have to aim your expectations low when seeing a live band.

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-05-17 00:33:51

    i'm on a roll

    - jonesy the a bonesy

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by Benjasaurus on 2005-05-17 00:33:32

    Moshing to Taking Back Sunday is like jacking off to the Sears catalogue.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 12:11 AM (EDT)

    "at least hollar something political if you have the mic"?

    shut up.