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| Taking Back Sunday looks
forward to bright future |
Kevin Delury
Entertainment Beat Writer |
Kevin DeLury | The Appalachian |
The scene
is one of utter madness. Inside Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill,
a torrent of bodies is rushing on stage only to jump off immediately,
raining down on members of the front rows. Most don’t even
seem to notice.
Somewhere in the midst of all the madness being played out before
them, Taking Back Sunday is churning out an amazing set of intense
and emotional punk rock, grabbing the attention of a sold out crowd.
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Taking Back Sunday
has been on a whirlwind ride ever since the release of their first
major label album, “Tell All Your Friends.”
The band roster consists of Shaun Cooper on bass, John Nolan and
Ed Reyes on guitar, drummer Mark O’Connell, and front man Adam
Cazzara.
Formed in 1999, the group recorded a demo that caught the attention
of Victory records. In 2001, they entered the studio to record “Tell
All your Friends” with producer Sal Villanueva.
Within three months of its release, “Tell All Your Friends”
went on to sell over 40,000 copies, making it the biggest selling
band in the history of Victory Records.
For the past six months, Taking Back Sunday has been touring in
support of their album, sharing the stage with bands such as Rufio,
Brand New, Alkaline Trio and From Autumn To Ashes.
So far, every single show has been sold out.
“To be honest, I thought we were going to record the album,
sell a couple thousand copies, and be happy playing in front of
50 kids on tour,” said guitarist Ed Reyes.
Reyes still maintains a humble opinion of their sold-out tour.
“It’s the same to me,” said Reyes. “It’s
just more people, but the energy is great.”
Taking Back Sunday’s schedule doesn’t end with touring,
however. The band is slated to film a video for the their next single
“Cute without the E (cut from the team).”
“As soon as we come home from this tour, the day we get back
we go right to our video shoot,” said Reyes.
Even with astounding album sales and sold-out shows, Reyes is reminded
the band’s success comes at a price.
“I gave up my apartment, my car, my life,” said Reyes.
“I gave up a relationship, a very strong, deep relationship.
When I go home, I sleep on friends’ couches and hang out with
my ex-girlfriend. I broke her heart, but these are the decisions
I make. I gave up everything. This is all I have.”
When the time to return home does come, it isn’t a homecoming
Reyes deals with easily. “It’s really depressing, when
you go over that Verezano Bridge, and you realize you have to go
back to reality. You just want to go back on the road. You go home
and have what you left behind, but sometimes it’s just not
there anymore.”
Spending so much time on the road can have its fair share of injuries
as well. Some are accidental, such as John Nolan’s loss of
a tooth when he got in the way of vocalist Adam Cazzara’s trademark
microphone swings.
Some, however, are much more serious.
“I was in Jersey playing for about 1,500 kids,” said Reyes.
“It was ridiculously out of control. I don’t know what
happened; I guess it was the exhaustion from touring, but my brain
said ‘No more,’ and some valve in my heart stopped working
for a moment, and I collapsed. They rushed me to the hospital where
I was told I had suffered heat stroke, which caused me to have a
minor heart attack.”
After suffering through something that trying, a great deal of bands
would take some time off the road, but Taking Back Sunday is not
one of those bands.
“You know what I did,” said Reyes. “I checked out,
got in the van, and headed to our next show.”
Reyes’ passion and dedication to the band is unmatched in its
intensity. In a live-for-the-moment attitude, he is aware that his
band’s success may be fleeting.
“It’s our moment right now,” said Reyes. “We’re
embracing it, but it won’t last forever. Nothing lasts forever.”
For more information on Taking Back Sunday, visit
their website: www.takingbacksunday.com. |
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