Taking Breaking Back Pangea Sunday

For the last year, Taking Back Sunday has created a certain amount of drama in the punk rock world. TBS have collected one of the biggest and most devoted fan bases in the punk rock/emo scene, mainly due to their pungent lyrics and the from the heart honesty.

Recently, fans have begun to wonder if the love they have for TBS is worth the nausea from the emotional roller coaster. Between the lyric battle with Brand New surfacing to the masses instead of just attentive internet kids, singer Adam's face colliding with a stage, and the continued rumors of the band calling it quits, TBS fans have not gotten much sleep. Most of the hoopla with the lyric battle have ceased after Brand New and TBS set out on tour together and shared the stage on both "Seventy Times Seven," and "There's No 'I' In Team." Generally each song is ended with Jesse and John sharing a bridge-burning hug.

Adam did eat some metal when careening with a stage during Midtown's show in Buffalo last September. The group was forced off the road while Adam recovered. The tour was covered by label mates and long time friends, The Reunion Show. But, sadly, the story of a TBS split was not entirely false, and here is what happened.

John and Adam were experiencing different views on business and personal measures. John Nolan and Shaun Cooper have left the band. Fans were outraged, and have claimed that things will never be the same, but never is pretty harsh. Seeing a band like this shake up after an amazing ride from no one to emo legends is hard to handle.

However, this is not the end of the world, or John and Shaun. Unless you are completely oblivious, or live under a rock, you have probably heard some buzz on a band called Straylight Run. I first cam across this unknown band in Indianapolis from a good friend of mine. I checked them out, and yes, to my surprise I had John Nolan back. John, Shaun, Will Noon (Breaking Pangea), and John's sister, Michelle started a band, and they are awesome. So, are Taking Back Sunday over? Never. Add a few members from Breaking Pangea, stir, and instantly, you have Taking Back Sunday, the new and improved.

So, what have we learned? Try to follow. Band gets shaky -> band splits -> add members from another band -> one new band and one old band emerge, another dissipates. This theory can not be applied to all situations, but for these guys (and a girl), the formula worked out great. Good luck guys. See you on the road.

Taking Back Sunday on tour with Saves the Day. Adam is working on writing the next album, without John at his side. We are eager to hear what TBS has to bring back to the table. Straylight Run on tour with New Amsterdams now, and soon will be headed to England with Brand New.

Jayne Star

jayne.star@XROXX.com