NJ Music Festivals

Taking Back Sunday returned to Starland Ballroom for its 11th annual holiday spectacular shows on Friday and Saturday, bringing their total Starland show count to 35.

After nearly decades without guitarist Fred Mascherino, the guitarist partially returned to the stage at last year’s spectacular. Since then, Mascherino has fully rejoined the band and performed two full sets with them this weekend at Starland. He certainly improved the band’s live sound by a great margin to the point where Taking Back Sunday is a can’t-miss band once again.

TBS performed an acoustic set on Saturday afternoon which featured photos with the band and Santa, vendors, philanthropic opportunities, and an acoustic Christmas set from the band. The band raised nearly $10,000 for charity during the pop-up event.

For the main show, I thought openers Modern Chemistry — who have a new song coming out on Friday — were great. They are holiday spectacular veterans. The Parlor Mob are also legends within the New Jersey live music circuit and performed a good set as well.

By the time Taking Back Sunday were ready to take the stage, Starland was so packed that you really couldn’t get from the front to the back. Thanks to Starland’s stage setup, however, there wasn’t a bad spot to be in the venue at all.

The band ripped through some of their biggest hits early, but stopped about halfway through to address a fight in the crowd. Lead singer Adam Lazzara half-jokingly threatened to attack the instigator with his swinging mic, but security dealt with the issue by ejecting at least one spectator.

There were quite a few deep cuts in the set sprinkled in: “El Paso,” “Beat Up Car,” and “New American Classic” were notable. They also performed the Eagles’ Christmas song, “Please Come Home for Christmas.”

Setlist:

1. What’s It Feel Like to Be a Ghost?
2. A Decade Under the Influence
3. You Can’t Look Back
4. S’Old
5. You Know How I Do
6. Set Phasers to Stun
7. The One
8. Liar (It Takes One to Know One)
9. …Slowdance on the Inside
10. You’re So Last Summer
11. New American Classic
12. Error: Operator
13. Miami
14. Timberwolves at New Jersey
15. Beat Up Car
16. Call Me in the Morning
17. El Paso
18. Please Come Home for Christmas (Eagles cover)
19. My Blue Heaven
20. Cute Without the ‘E’ (Cut From the Team)
21. MakeDamnSure