One of the most highly anticipated tours of the summer concert season is the co-headlining “Summer Tour 2018” featuring Taking Back Sunday and Coheed and Cambria. The tour made a stop this past weekend at the Charlotte Metro Credit Union Ampitheatre playing to a capacity crowd.
The alternative rock of Taking Back Sunday was up first. The band has undergone several line up changes over the years including the recent departure of guitarist Eddie Reyes this past April. Led by lead guitarist John Nolan, the only remaining founding member, Taking Back Sunday stormed the stage and ran through an outstanding set. Rounding out the lineup is lead vocalist and Charlotte resident Adam Lazzara, drummer Mark O’Connell, and bassist Shaun Cooper. Lazzara not only has a powerful set of pipes with a voice that carried well over the outdoor venue but he is also a consummate showman. Adam dazzled the crowd with his microphone which he swung around and over his head wrapping the cord around his neck at times. Nolan was fierce and on the attack as he kicked things off with crowd favorite “What It Feels Like To Be a Ghost?” showing off his technical skills as well as his passionate style of playing. The setlist was heavy with tunes from their 2016 album “Tidal Wave” and the classic “Louder Now” record. As the sun set the fans pulled out their cellphones to light up the night as Taking Back Sunday had the crowd on their feet for “Make Damn Sure” which closed out a stellar performance.
After a short break , the stage darkened with the exception of several beams of light which shone down on the audience as the members of Coheed and Cambria made their way out on the stage. As a silhouette of frontman Claudio Sanchez became visible, the venue erupted and the band launched into “Prologue.” Coheed is known for their progressive metal sound and their concept albums based on the science fiction stories of The Amory Wars which were written by Sanchez and are also available in graphic novel form. The band brought an absolutely amazing light show with them with constantly changing colors and a giant light up version of their logo, The Keywork, behind Josh Eppard’s drum kit. Sanchez for the most part kept his spot behind his microphone center stage while guitarist Travis Stever and bassist Zach Cooper were stage right and stage left respectively. Sanchez has an amazing voice that is a perfect fit for their unique sounds. The crowd was on their feet for the entire set with a highlight being “Here We Are Juggernaut” from the “Year of the Black Rainbow” album. Coheed’s music is intricate and complex and the band pulls it off beautifully in a live setting. They are true masters of their craft and the outer space theme of the music lends itself to unique visuals that add to the experience. The band has a new record coming out this fall and added “Unheavenly Creatures” to their set which fit right in with Coheed classics “The Crowing” and the set closer “Welcome Home.”
Whether you’re a fan of the more traditional alt rock style of Taking Back Sunday or the wonderful mosaic of sound that Coheed and Cambria brings with them, the Summer Tour 2018 is the must see show of the summer!
Taking Back Sunday Set List:
What It Feels Like To Be a Ghost?
Error:Operator
You Can’t Look Back
Timber Wolves at New Jersey
Liar (It Takes One To Know One)
Faith (When I Let You Down)
All Excess
A Decade Under the Influence
Better Homes and Gardens
Flicker, Fade
Set Phasers To Stun
Call Come Running
You’re So Last Summer
Cute Without The “E” (Cut From the Team)
Tidal Wave
Make Damn Sure
Coheed and Cambria Set List:
Prologue
The Dark Sentence
Here We Are Juggernaut
Devil in Jersey City
In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth:3
The Crowing
Blood Red Summer
A Favor House Atlantic
Ten Speed (Of God’s Blood and Burial)
Here To Mars
Wake Up
Unheavenly Creatures
Welcome Home
We would like to thank Kim Shiver from Livenation for the credentials to review the show.
