On Wednesday The Sounds made their triumphant return to New York City to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Dying to Say This to You (New Line, 2006). Reigning as the band’s sophomore album, it topped the charts in the US (Billboard’s 200) and Sweden while catapulting The Sounds onto the indie rock scene with international critical laud. While the band has since released three more records—Crossing the Rubicon(Original Signal, 2009), Something to Die For (SideOneDummy, 2011), and Weekend (INgrooves, 2013)—their second album, to date, arguably remains their most widely recognized and favored among their fans (making their 2016 tour something of a treat for enthusiast across the US).

Wednesday night marked the second of two stops in New York City (the first night paying homage at Brooklyn’s Warsaw and the second night at Manhattan’s Irving Plaza). The scene was one of total anticipation and collected excitement, as lead singer Maja Ivarsson poured her heart and soul into every beat and lyric. As songs like “Painted by Numbers” and “Ego” filled the venue, fans belted out every chorus and verse in sync (in a complete nod of respect to the veteran performance). While the majority of the evening focused on Dying to Say This to You, the end of the evening wrapped with a quick set change and a few older/newer songs—as the iconic album cover of Dying to Say This to You fell to give way to the equally iconic cover of their debut album Living in America (New Line, 2002). As a whole, the evening was nothing short of perfect—a nostalgic dream with an altogether happy ending.

Be sure to check out The Sounds at the-sounds.com and on iTunes.