For anyone who came of age in the early 2000s emo and alternative scene, the combination of Bayside and Taking Back Sunday on the same bill felt like a dream lineup. For me, it was especially meaningful. I first discovered both bands through a Victory Records sampler back in 2004, and they’ve remained staples in my music collection ever since. More than two decades later, seeing them share the stage at the House of Blues Myrtle Beach on June 12, 2026, felt like stepping back into a defining era of my life while being reminded why their music continues to resonate today.
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Bayside proved to be the perfect opener for the evening. The New York quartet delivered a set packed with fan favorites and newer material, effortlessly balancing the melancholy, honesty, and melodic hooks that have defined their career. Longtime favorites like “Montauk” were met with enthusiastic singalongs, while newer tracks such as “How to Ruin Everything (Patience)” from their 2024 album There Are Worse Things Than Being Alive showcased a band that continues to evolve without losing the heart of what made fans fall in love with them in the first place. Anthony Raneri’s songwriting remains as sharp and relatable as ever, and the band’s tight, energetic performance set the tone perfectly for what was to come.
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When Taking Back Sunday took the stage, the crowd responded immediately. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Louder Now, frontman Adam Lazzara reflected on the album’s significance and how it changed the trajectory of the band. The anniversary added an extra layer of meaning to a setlist that spanned their career, featuring fan favorites including “What’s It Feel Like to Be a Ghost?,” “Liar (It Takes One to Know One),” “You’re So Last Summer,” and the enduring anthem “Cute Without the ‘E’ (Cut From the Team).”
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The band also shared a lighthearted moment with the Myrtle Beach crowd, mentioning that they had been checking their hurricane tracker before making the trip—a nod to their canceled Myrtle Beach appearance in August 2024 due to Hurricane Debby. It was one of several moments throughout the night that made the show feel personal rather than just another stop on the tour.
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What stood out most was the energy. More than twenty years into their career, Taking Back Sunday showed no signs of simply going through the motions. Lazzara’s trademark stage presence remained intact, and the band fed off a crowd that knew every word. Songs from Louder Now landed with the same impact they did two decades ago, while classics from Tell All Your Friends and Where You Want To Be transformed the House of Blues into a massive singalong filled with equal parts nostalgia and celebration.
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Ironically, the same summer that brought Bayside and Taking Back Sunday together in Myrtle Beach also finds Taking Back Sunday returning to one of the environments that helped launch bands like theirs into the mainstream. The band will appear at all remaining Vans Warped Tour dates throughout 2026, bringing their music back to a new generation of fans while reconnecting with those who grew up alongside them. They also recently announced a fall tour with Thrice and Saves the Day, creating another can’t-miss lineup for longtime fans of the scene.
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For those looking to catch Taking Back Sunday later this year, a full list of upcoming dates—including Warped Tour appearances and the fall run with Thrice and Saves the Day—can be found on the band’s official website. If their Myrtle Beach performance was any indication, audiences across the country are in for a night filled with nostalgia, energy, and a reminder of why these songs have continued to endure for more than two decades.
