by Randall “Hanka” McNeill and Anthony Monroe Jun 18, 2026

It’s not often that we get a good concert in Spartanburg, South Carolina. When I saw that TBS was coming to The Hall at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium I had to see it.

While I wasn’t super familiar with Taking Back Sunday’s music, I knew of them from friends in high school. They enjoyed the music and knew that they were forced to be reckoned with in the emo and rock community. I packed up my gear and headed to the show with my best friend, and PCS’ owner/writer extraordinaire, Anthony. Anthony is definitely more familiar with the genre and style of both bands playing at this concert so I’ll let him take over from here.

Ant’s perspective

That’s where I come in! Hi, I’m Hanka’s brother in arms, Anthony. You may know me from my Motion City Soundtrack writeup! I’ve been a long time TBS fan, and I do know these songs, and the history! I am also a huge Bayside fan, so seeing these two together, was a big night for me.

Bayside started up, and other than a few songs I wanted to see that they didn’t play, I still heard a lot of what I wanted. Their portion of the show kept me going strong, and I was singing along, I forgot the review! They brought such a good, and genuine energy, and the crowd was really loving it! I can’t wait to see them again.

Taking Back Sunday was everywhere I want to be (necessary song reference ftw). It was awesome to see Fred up there with them, and they kept the energy up. They picked up well from where I was as an angsty 19-27 year old and took me straight to reminiscenceville. This is not my story though, so I will throw it back to Hanka.

Back to Hanka

I will say Bayside, from this outsiders perspective, came out to quite the crowd, the live energy from the band plus the crowd feeding them, helped their set immensely. It also didn’t hurt that the bassist was wearing a Carolina Hurricanes T-shirt while they were playing in the final game of the 2026 Stanley Cup championship. He was also quick to let us know that the Stanley Cup champions of now were up one to nothing. Not only did he get the crowd raucous, but it made this old hockey fan extremely happy.

I have been warned from other photographers about TBS’ lead man Adam L. and his enjoyment of swinging microphones. As I took my spot in the Photo pit, I tried my hardest to catch Mr. Adam throwing that microphone and, Much to my surprise, I did. The photos turned out much better than I expected.

As someone who went into this concert with very little knowledge of Taking Back Sunday, I came out of it with a new respect for the band and seeing how well they play off of their fans energy the back-and-forth between the fans is great. It’s something that I’m not so used to seeing with other bands in bigger concert venues. This one truly felt like he was speaking to each fan, but also speaking to them as a group.

It was truly a great time in Spartanburg and one that Anthony and I both hope we can do again for both of these bands!

• Taking Back Sunday SETLIST:
• What’s It Feel Like to Be a Ghost?
• Liar (It Takes One to Know One)
• Set Phasers to Stun
• The One
• Error: Operator
• You Know How I Do
• Tidal Wave
• Up Against (Blackout)
• You’re So Last Summer
• Twenty-Twenty Surgery
• Flicker, Fade
• Amphetamine Smiles
• A Decade Under the Influence
• Brooklyn (If You See Something, Say Something)
• S’Old
• My Blue Heaven
• Lightbringer
• Timberwolves at New Jersey
• Miami Play Video You Can’t Look Back
• Cute Without the ‘E’ (Cut From the Team)
• MakeDamnSure

Check out the full gallery of shots from Hanka: https://www.hankamediamarketing.com/Photos/Live-Music-Music-Photos-ライブ音楽/Taking-Back-Sunday-and-Bayside-