‘North American 2024 Tour’ Featuring Taking Back Sunday & Citizen – Orlando, FL – 8.1.24

Many Florida music fans would give you the same general consensus on 2024 so far: it’s been a slow year for rock tours coming through the area. Taking Back Sunday was a more than welcome addition to the central region of the state’s concert calendar. Boasting three Florida dates on their North American tour route, they kicked off the first of the trio in Orlando at the House of Blues.

The rain from yet another summer storm didn’t stop TBS and Citizen fans from showing up and packing out the venue by any stretch of the imagination. From the floor to the balcony, fans filled the House of Blues shortly after doors opened, ensuring Citizen (the one and only opening act) had plenty of energy to pull from to start the show. An unexpected tour pairing, Citizen cast away any doubt one may have had about them opening the show nearly immediately. Crowd surfers and circle pits made their marks on the crowd as hundreds of fans yelled lyrics right back at the band.

Orlando showed up for Citizen just as excited as they did for Taking Back Sunday, eager to see them for the first time in a few years (save for a couple recent shows in Tampa last year). While most of the setlist contained tracks from their two most recent records, you didn’t need to be a die-hard Citizen fan familiar with their most familiar releases in order to feel the energy that buzzed through the room and remained until Taking Back Sunday finally took the stage.

Similarly to Citizen, Taking Back Sunday’s most recent record 152 was the source for approximately a third of the setlist, offering fans new and OG alike a taste at experiencing brand new songs in ways they hadn’t heard before. The crowd traded push pits for watching frontman Adam Lazarra swing his microphone around as they crowdsurfed to the front right from the beginning of the show. Classics like “Liar (It Takes One To Know One)” and “You’re So Last Summer” were sprinkled through the set, offering long-term fans a treat every few songs.

One may think that hitting the same spots every tour would fatigue fans on an artist (especially one that’s been around for decades, like TBS), but that couldn’t be further from the truth for Taking Back Sunday’s listeners whenever they roll through the Sunshine State. Each time I’ve gotten to attend one of their shows (or lived vicariously through a friend when I couldn’t make it), Florida has shown up in droves to be in attendance. Taking Back Sunday consistently puts on a show that’s as fun to watch as it seems to be for them to play. Their energy is infectious and unlike any other act that comes from the same era of emo.

Check out the full photo gallery of the night below. Photos by photographer Caitlyn McGonigal.

Citizen

Taking Back Sunday