A Little Rain Never Stopped Taking Back Sunday Fans From Showing Up

Some shows turn first-time listeners into casual fans, but Taking Back Sunday’s tour stop at Hard Rock Atlantic City was the kind that could turn any listener into a diehard. From the moment the band stepped onstage on September 25 silhouetted by rainbow lights and smoke, it was evident this was going to be an incredible show. Everything else seemed to melt away, including the Nor’easter that had begun rolling in only a few hours earlier. By the time Adam Lazzara walked out and opened the show, the storm outside was the last thing anyone in Etess Arena seemed to care about.

Taking Back Sunday is joined by Thrice and Saves The Day on their fall 2026 tour, who both had fans dancing and singing as they poured in from all over the state. As the set changed over to TBS around 9 p.m., you could spot fans running from all over the casino to make it just in time for the set after catching a little bit of the storm outside. Once Taking Back Sunday took the stage, though, nobody seemed particularly interested in anything happening outside the room.

The show’s setlist was any true TBS fan’s dream. Beginning with “What’s It Feel Like to Be a Ghost?”, the set rose the energy high, as Adam Lazzara strutted across the stage and swung his microphone over his head toward the audience. Taking Back Sunday’s set then moved into “Liar (It Takes One to Know One),” “Set Phasers to Stun,” and “The One,” with everyone in the room singing their hearts out. There was never much of a chance for the room to settle before another favorite came crashing in.

The production on the show was spectacular. The songs sounded bigger with an entire room shouting the words back at the band, while crowdsurfers moved overhead and pits opened up across the floor. The lighting made the show feel stadium-sized, with strobes, spotlights, and smoke adding another layer to the band's already massive stage presence. 

The 20-song set was stacked with favorites, including “Tidal Wave,” “S’Old,” and “Miami,” giving longtime fans plenty to sing along to. As the show moved into its final stretch, “Timberwolves at New Jersey” brought a loud roar from the Atlantic City audience, beaming with Jersey pride. From there, the band went into “Cute Without the 'E' (Cut From the Team),” giving the crowd another chance to scream.

By the time “MakeDamnSure” brought the night to a close, the Nor’easter that had fans running through the casino earlier in the night was still waiting outside. But inside Etess Arena, Taking Back Sunday had given everyone plenty of reason to forget about it, sending fans home with what is sure to be a classic case of post-concert depression. With the tour continuing through October 18, there are plenty more cities waiting for fans (or first-timers) to have the time of their lives.

Photos and review by Bek Allegretti