Queens natives Bayside stormed New York City's Gramercy Theater on Dec. 18 for a hometown holiday show, during which they also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the release of their acclaimed self-titled LP, performing the 2005 album in its entirety.
Support act the Bombers kicked off the night with an explosive 30-minute set. Alkaline Trio's Dan Andriano performed a solo acoustic set, playing a mix of songs, including Alkaline Trio's My Shame Is True B-side "Broken Wing" and songs from his latest full-band LP as Dan Andriano in the Emergency Room, Party Adjacent.
The highlight of the evening, obviously, was Bayside's electric set, which exploded with opener "Sick Sick Sick," an energetic fan favorite. They followed that with six other songs that spanned their career before diving into the self-titled album.
Bayside also performed "Pigsty" from their latest record, Cult, which was released last year via Hopeless Records. Frontman Anthony Raneri told the audience the band opted out of an official anniversary tour because they felt their fans liked all of their music, not just any particular album. The crowd responded with excited cheers as the band's hometown pride continued to emanate through their music.
The pop-punk outfit then tore into "Talking of Michelangelo" from their 2004 debut album, Sirens and Condolences, for their earliest fans, some of whom had also been to the previous night's show, at least according to Raneri's informal poll of the audience.
After the first seven tracks, the band left the stage, and a clip of Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation played over the sound system: "Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas!"
The band did not disappoint, performing the self-titled LP front-to-back, with highlights "Devotion and Desire" and "Montauk" and the necessary singalong acoustic ballad "Don't Call Me Peanut." Fans seemed to pick up their to really get their second wind here, with the mosh pit opening up and attendees crowdsurfing in earnest. The audience, as well as Bayside, left the show pleased, to say the least, and as a fan who's seen them perform live nearly every time they've played locally, this was one of their best concerts.
