Bayside @ Crystal Ballroom

On a night when most people would be staying, in hiding from the rain, a large group of adventurous people waited in line in front of the Portland Crystal Ballroom for the Taking Back Sunday and Bayside concert. Was it worth it? There is not doubt in my mind it was worth it, and I bet my small collection of Bayside CD’s, DVD’s and ticket stubs that everyone else thought so too. There was no doubt that many of the attendants were there to see the legendary emo rock band Taking Back Sunday, but there might have been an even larger group to see Queens New York Punk Bayside fans. One of the most underrated punk bands still rocking hard after releasing 5 full length albums and ten years on the road.

With 10 years worth of music and over 50 songs to choose from Bayside’s set list for the night was meant for long time fans and the newly acquired. Lead singer/rhythm guitarist Anthony Raneri began the set with a fast guitar rhythm of Sick Sick Sick as the rest of band, drummer Chris Guglielmo, bassist Nick Ghanbarian, and the lead guitarist with the wicked fast fingers Jack O’Shea. Immediately there was a shift in the venue. The center of room opened up as the fans began moshing. For the next 35 minutes there was no change. Next up was an older song, Montauk. It was now that the skill from Jack O’Shea started to shine. His insanely fast guitar skill’s and solo’s at the end of Montauk could be compared to speed of many metal bands. But with a punk rock style.

It was a thrill to actually see a punk rock band with constancy through all five records and actually play music they wanted rather then a record label. Continuing on the set list Bayside speed up with Already Gone, Walking Wounded, Duality and Killing Time, and Blame it on Bad Luck. Right before their last song Bayside gave thanks to the band that inspired them from the beginning, Taking Back Sunday, the band they were opening up for. Having started bands at similar times it was the success of Taking Back Sunday that fueled Anthony Raneri to pursue music and create Bayside. So hats of to Taking Back Sunday, without them Bayside might not. To end the night, of course it would be unlike Bayside to end the night was song other then Devotion and Desire. The song that every long time fan knows and the song that new fans will be eager to hear again.

Setlist
Sick Sick Sick
Montauk
Already Gone
Duality
Seeing Sounds
Walking Wounded
Carry On
Masterpiece
Killing Time
Blame it on Bad Luck
Devotion and Desire

Bayside concert photos 1-15 (Photo: Logan Westom)