June 23 was a return to natural state. The Irving Plaza in New York City got its real name back, shedding its prefix “The Filmore.” And playing that night under the brand new marquee sporting the old name was the newly restored original Taking Back Sunday line up. Sure, it was Night Two of the tour, but everyone was still reeling in excitement about the epic reunion, and the formidable combination of Adam Lazzara, John Nolan, Shaun Cooper, Eddie Reyes, and Mark O’Connell took back Irving, their fans, and the rites to be the Taking Back Sunday.

The screen rose and the band exploded into “Cute Without The ‘E’” Adam’s voice hanging just over the crowd’s screams. Crowd surfers flew high and early, hitting the stage by the time Adam screamed the lyric the band’s debut album derives its name from. TBS cut the music and let the crowd’s voice ring out alone for “Why can’t I feel anything for anyone other than you?” in a fitting desperation for both the line itself and the relief of hearing the Tell All Your Friends TBS finally playing together after 7 long years.

TBS blasted through “Set Phasers to Stun,” ironically and passionately revving the crowd: “I’m sorry it took me so long!” “Liar” wrapped up the opening set, and Adam paused for a quick word with the crowd.

A Star-Spangled Banner hung behind TBS; the crowd routinely broke out into “USA” chants, pumped from the day’s World Cup victory over Algeria. But that patriotism was simply manifest TBS passion: The TAYF band playing together was until recently, even more unheard of than an American soccer victory.

The opening chord and literal dare “Go on, just say it” launched the next set of energized songs: “One-Eighty By Summer” followed by “Bike Scene” and “Error: Operator”. Adam and John needed amplification to let their vocals fly over the crowd’s shouts, but the give and take of the entire community present was the essence of the show. Fans surged forward and backward, jumped and swayed exactly with the beat, and generated body heat and a perspiration bubble that even touched Adam up on stage.

The Straylight Run song “Existentialism On Prom Night” followed. Taking Back Sunday stamped the tune as their own with Adam singing lead and John doing back up vocals where Michelle would have been. “What It Feels Like To Be A Ghost” and “A Decade Under The Influence” followed, and the floor pulsed with “I got a bad feeling about this.” The crowd generally behaved as most were too focused on enjoying the Taking Back Sunday to wreak havoc. And the TAYF line up played “Everything Must Go” off of New Again, demonstrating their willingness and ability to take on all stages of TBS music. In fact, the band played music from each of the four albums currently released.

Then, they showed the magic. This piece is tentatively called “The Best Places to Be A Mom,” and it is the future sound of Taking Back Sunday. The older emo feel and little new spark is an interesting mix. Then again, it’s the 2002 Tell All Your Friends band writing in 2010.

The two TAYF tracks “You’re So Last Summer” and “You Know How I Do” exploded through the room. The crowd swerved and jolted, so very “sick and tired” of waiting to hear that song live. Before playing, Adam coyly taunted matter-of-factly, “This is the first track off of our first album.”

TBS continued with old tunes, playing “I’m Not Gay Anymore, I Just Wish I Were,” a song they had played in 2003 before they broke up and had never properly titled. “Great Romances of the 20th Century,” the first song the 5 ever wrote together followed, paired with a particularly energetic “Timberwolves of New Jersey.” The crowd obeyed at “Get up, get up,” sailing into the air. The lyric “I’ve got the mic and you’ve got the mosh pit” united the venue in one: All seemed to stop as each person pointed and allocated ownership, losing his voice in the process.

“MakeDamnSure” featured Adam’s acrobatics: He climbed to the balcony and hung momentarily off of the banister, not quite able to make it over the rail, and finally flopping down face first.

“Your Own Disaster” was described simply as “an old song,” so old, in fact, Adam had the wrong chord for the first few lines and had to reset himself twice. “This is a professional rock and roll band, ladies and gentlemen,” he joked. But his error didn’t detract from the raw emotion behind this sometimes forgotten song; live, John’s back up creep and support Adam perfectly, creating a chilling and round sound.

Throughout the night, the group chatted and joked: Adam told Eddie he looked “simply marvelous”, and John kept referring to the unavoidable heat and moisture in the room. Whatever had pulled the group apart 7 years prior and kept them away fro so long has evaporated onstage.

In a perfect introduction to a perfect closing, Adam explained that once the band swore they’d never play this song again because of the plain malevolence in it. But “There Is No ‘I’ In Team” sprung from the stage. The energy and conviction from the crowd seemed to suggest a TBS allegiance in the infamous Brand New - Taking Back Sunday rivalry. For many, seeing this song live and hearing Adam mutter “you’re a subtle as a brick in the small of my back” solidified the return of the Taking Back Sunday that started it all. The fans perhaps won’t ever come back down, and the band might not either. What could be better?

*This review was composed by Emily Coch