From Long Island Hardcore to All Good Things: The New Era of ME.

From Long Island Hardcore to All Good Things: The New Era of ME.

Some reunions happen quietly. Others feel like tectonic plates shifting back into place.

For Mark O’Connell and Eddie Reyes, former founding members of Taking Back Sunday, reconnecting after nearly a decade apart wasn’t just a conversation — it was a spark. A reminder of the chemistry that built an entire generation of post‑hardcore, and the creative fire that had never really gone out.

That spark became ME., a new band rooted in the raw honesty of Long Island punk, the emotional weight of their shared history, and the liberating joy of making music without expectations, pressure, or outside interference. Their debut album, All Good Things, is not a nostalgia trip — it’s a declaration. A reclamation. A rebirth.

In this candid conversation, Mark and Eddie open up about reconnecting after years of silence, rediscovering their creative bond, finding the right singer, working with producer Chris Bittner, and why ME. represents the most authentic music they’ve ever made.

This is not a look back.

This is a look forward — with two artists who finally feel free.

At what point did you both decide to be in a band together again?
Mark O’Connell: Eddie and I hadn’t talked in eight or nine years. We weren’t even in the same room. But Jonas — Eddie’s son — kept in touch with me over the years. Just little messages: “What’s up, Uncle Mark?” “Merry Christmas.” “Happy birthday.” I’ve known him since he was tiny, bashing on drums like a little John Bonham. So that connection stayed alive.

In December 2024, Eddie and I finally talked on the phone for the first time in years. We caught up for two hours. It felt right.

And honestly, Casey — our manager — made it possible for us to meet up and get into a studio. She’s been there since day one. As a Taking Back Sunday fan, she missed that early sound — the one people fell in love with. She knew if Eddie and I got in a room together, something special would happen. And it did.

In January 2025, we went into a basement studio on Long Island for two days. In those two days, we wrote the music that became “Violent People” and “Blood Sport.” That was literally the first thing that happened when we got back together.

The music wasn’t the hard part. Everything else was.

Eddie Reyes: That first time we got together, it just came naturally. No forcing it.

The album is called All Good Things. What does that title mean to you?
Eddie: I’ve been to AA and a lot of rehabs trying to get sober. My sponsors always told me, “It’s not that hard. It’s very simple. It’s all good things if you think of it that way.” And they were right. That mindset helped me get sober again. I said that phrase a lot at practice — “It’s all good things.” It stuck.

Mark: Not just once — a lot. It became this mantra. And when we decided to make it the title, everyone was excited. Why shouldn’t it be All Good Things?

Tell me about vocalist Mike Jansen and bassist Neal Amiruddin.
Mark: Neal and I grew up together. With Mike, it was different. At first, Eddie and I didn’t want a singer. We just wanted to write. But Casey set up a songwriting session with a few people — one of them was Mike.

When someone like Mike walks into the studio, you don’t say, “Maybe later.” In the words of our producer Chris Bittner, you make sure that guy is in your band. Mike is on another level.

Eddie: The moment he put lyrics down, I knew. My brain went, “Yo, this is it.” No need to try out a bunch of people. It felt right immediately.

Mark: And when Eddie is that sure, he gives me a look — “Mark, listen.” And I get it instantly. That’s how we’ve always worked.

Are you planning to play live shows?
Eddie: Definitely. We just want to rehearse a little more, but we’re almost ready.

Mark: Hopefully the first show will be the album release — July 24th.

Eddie: And honestly? I don’t care if we sound a little rough. We’re punkers. Hardcore kids from Long Island. We don’t have to be perfect. If it’s messy, whatever — it proves we’re real.

Let’s talk a few Taking Back Sunday anniversaries. Tidal Wave turns ten this year. What do you think of it now?
Eddie: No comment.

Mark: Without insulting anything we’ve done, ME. is hands‑down better than anything we’ve ever done. There are cool songs on Tidal Wave, but it doesn’t touch All Good Things.

Eddie: And now we get to write the way we want — without someone standing over us. I’m not letting that dynamic back into my life.

The new album feels like liberation.
Mark: Do you feel that when you listen to it?

Hell yes.  One more TBS questio, then back to ME.  Now Louder Now turns twenty. Thoughts?

Eddie: That was a long time ago.

Mark: Great songs, great memories. But ME. is so fucking dope that it’s hard to talk about Louder Now with the same passion.

Eddie: It’s in the past. I’m proud of it. But ME. is my focus. That’s all I want to think about.

A lot of people have heard “Special.” What does that song mean to you?
Mark: “Special” was the first song we worked on at Applehead Recording with Chris Bittner. Eddie had that riff. I put the beat on it. By the end of the night, we had the outline.  Chris is an amazing producer — positive, brilliant, and a gentleman.

Eddie: When Mike sent in his version, I knew it was going to be a great song.

Mark: When his vocals hit that first verse, he sounded like a cool motherfucker. Swag. Different. On another level.

Eddie: I’ve always had trouble translating the melodies in my head into music. Chris created a language so we could understand each other. He made me feel confident.

Mark: Eddie’s riffs are punk and hardcore — simple in the best way. Chris knew how to celebrate that. He gave us vocabulary for what we were already doing.

Eddie: We learned “footballs,” “common chords,” all that. Now I know the names.

Mark: And there are tons of key changes on the album. We didn’t even know we were doing them.

Eddie: We’re just talented dudes with ADHD and autism.

Mark: You nailed it.

Any messages for fans who’ve followed your careers?
Eddie: Thank you for giving us a chance. I want people to take ME. for what it is — something new, something fresh, something a little old‑school. I just want to have fun. Don’t compare. Don’t overthink it. Just enjoy it.

Mark: We didn’t get together for streams or money. We got together because we make music in a beautiful way. Taking Back Sunday getting big was a miracle. But ME. is real art made for the right reasons.

Eddie: Back in the ’80s, you either sold drugs, joined a gang, went to jail, or became punk rock. I chose punk rock. I want to feel safe, have fun, and not care about being perfect.

Mark: And that’s the beauty of it.

Eddie: The beauty of us is that we’re imperfect. Let’s take advantage of that.

Mark: All good things.

Eddie: All good things, baby.

In Conclusion

Reunion stories often end with nostalgia.  This one begins with freedom.

With ME., Mark O’Connell and Eddie Reyes aren’t revisiting their past — they’re writing their future. All Good Things is the sound of two artists rediscovering their chemistry, reclaiming their creative voice, and making music for the purest reason possible: because it feels good, because it feels right, and because it’s theirs.

Imperfect. Honest. Loud.  And absolutely alive.

ME. isn’t a comeback.  It’s a stunning new beginning that is exciting to experience!

(Interview by Ken Morton)

ME. on Instagram