When Taking Back Sunday stopped by the MTV News offices on Monday (to chat with us as well as to visit with Alexa Chung), they were fresh off their latest New York City gig: Live from Macy's in Herald Square. The group played the iconic department store to plug the new clothing line D*Coded, but it also became part of some wish fulfillment for the Long Island natives. "We're trying to play as many iconic New York venues as we can," explained bass player Matt Rubano, noting that they've already got Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall (site of the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards) under their collective belt. But what famous New York spot did they jokingly say they're most looking forward to?
Of course, Matthew Fazzi's giant keyboard dominance comes care of a recent incident following a concert in Dublin, Ireland, and he'll remain hobbled for the first part of their upcoming road trip with Blink-182 and Weezer, a tour leg that begins Sunday night in Toronto. Despite their clear affinity for the Big Apple, the band won't be around for this year's VMAs, as they'll be on tour in California the night of the show. In addition to endorsing the clothing line, Taking Back Sunday have a number of other irons in the fire, including a live album (featuring their performance from this year's Bamboozle festival) and a possible all-acoustic album that will channel the great "MTV Unplugged" performances of years past like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and LL Cool J. "That LL Cool J episode is old-school and awesome," said Rubano. "He's not wearing a shirt and you can see his giant deodorant cakes, but he still kills it."
By Ben Hockin
Taking Back Sunday supported the launch of D*Coded, a new clothing brand for boys, by having a free show at Macy's Herald Square in New York City yesterday. The middle of the children's floor in a department store isn't necessarily the most logical spot for a rock show, but the five men from TBS made it work. Fans were packed between racks of brand-named clothing to see their favorite band play a seven-song acoustic set while tourists and shoppers were walking by with confused faces wondering how they were ever going to get to the Rocawear T-shirts on the other side of the stage.
The group opened with "New Again" and followed that with "A Decade Under the Influence." The band likes to toss in the Beyoncé lyric, "If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it" at the end of the latter tune, and they revealed that their performance at Bamboozle was recorded and is ready to become a live album — just as long as they can clear the use of the lyric with her people. "It's not like you can just call Beyoncé on her cell phone," lead singer Adam Lazzara told the crowd.
A few songs later, TBS brought down the store with their latest single "Sink Into Me." They then proceeded to have a small and spontaneous question and answer session with the crowd, where they discussed baseball, encouraged everybody to go to church and even gave away a guitar pick to a fan.
After the show, the band took photos and signed autographs with the first 100 fans that bought a D*Coded product. D*Coded is a new clothing brand designed by Maria Hartley, for boys, and was "inspired by popular music, surf, skate, and the emerging active sport culture." You can find D*Coded apparel by looking for their skateboard and skull logo or at any Macy's and Nordstrom's across the country.
Watching last night's Emmy Awards telecast was a painful experience. When I wasn't wincing at the five hosts' "banter" or questioning my sobriety during a Josh Groban medley, I was rolling my eyes every time a Z-list presenter bitched about their bit being cut for time. (Hey, crazy old lady from "Desperate Housewives," nobody doubts that you can deliver a Bruce Vilanch punch line. Get over yourself!)
But nothing got my goat more than the Macy's ad, made up of movie and TV clips that took place in the iconic retail chain, that ran during the show. In the midst of "I Love Lucy" shout-outs and the obvious "Miracle at 34th Street" moment, there was a shot of Andrew McCarthy and Estelle Getty walking through a grand retail palace, "Baywatch" slo-mo style. (Thankfully, neither of them was in a red swimsuit.)
But the classic McCarthy/Getty collaboration was from the brilliant 1987 rom-com "Mannequin," a movie that took place at a fictional shop called "Prince and Company" and was shot in the Philadelphia department store, Wanamaker's! Read more...
