TACKING BACK SUNDAY with STRAYLIGHT RUN and LETLIVE. at the BleauLive Theater Las Vegas WWWY Sideshow

Updated: Oct 27

Ever since the impromptu side shows popped up, when the first night of the inaugural When We Were Young Festival was cancelled due to weather, the side shows have been an integral part of the weekend, and something the festival goers (and those not lucky enough to get tickets) look forward to. Tonight is no exception, Taking Back Sunday is joined by LetLive. and Straylight Run at the BleauLive Theater inside of the Fountainebleau Hotel and Casino. Since the festival grounds are basically across the street, a lot of the attendees are staying here, which makes for an excellent turnout.

Straylight Run is up first, and it is exciting to see them, since this band has not played live in awhile. In 2010 they announced they were going on indefinite hiatus, in 2021 they played one show but this is their first show back since, and of course they will be at the festival tomorrow. For having been on hiatus you wouldn’t know it, they look and sound like a band that has been doing this consistently since they began in 2003.

The seven song set includes "Mistakes We Knew We Were Making" and "It’s for the Best". The set ends almost better than it begins with the live debut of "Anthem", and then "Existentialism on Prom Night" joined by Adam Lazzara from Taking Back Sunday. It was really exciting to see this band back live, and the fans won’t miss their set tomorrow that is for sure. More on Straylight Run HERE

The next band up is another that took a little break until 2024 before touring again. That is one of the things that make this festival weekend so much fun, it entices bands to return to the crowds that love them. Letlive. take the stage and begin with their intro "Le Prologue" and right from the beginning it is clear we are in for an intense set.

Singer Jason Aalon Butler and guitarist Jeff Sahyoun are literally flying around the stage, spinning, kicking and climbing on the drums. It is intense. Songs like "Renegade ‘86", "Muther" and "The Dope Beat" really get the crowd moving. The fans are singing along to every word, and when the set closes with the high intensity "27 Club" no one is ready for it to end. Check out the band HERE.

Taking Back Sunday has the longest tenure of the bands at this show tonight and it shows from their stage to their performance. There is a giant video screen behind the band that alternates between graphics and Adam Lazzara. The open with "A Decade Under the Influence", "What it Feels Like to be a Ghost" and "S’Old". It is clear the band is having a great time. Lazzara is dancing and smiling and doing his signature microphone swing. John Nolan, Shaun Cooper and Fred Mascherino on the guitars are exciting to watch.

The set keep building as we power through "Set Phasers to Sun", "Amphetamine Smiles" and "You’re So Last Summer". At this point one might this we are close to done because they have already played ten songs, but they keep going. Nineteen songs in total which is a lot for many concerts today, let alone for someone who is playing two festival shows over the next two days, but this band is clearly loving it and so are the fans. The set wraps up with "Flicker Fade", "Cute without the ‘E’ (Cut From the Team)" and "MakeDamnSure". More on Taking Back Sunday HERE.