Thrice at the Shrine in Downtown Los Angeles
This past Friday night everyone’s rock ‘n’ roll bones jumped to the ceiling of the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall for the return of Orange County’s, Thrice. It was a packed sold-out show with opening acts La Dispute and Gates kicking off the evening.
Directly following Gates, was post-hardcore group of maniacs from Grand Rapids, Michigan known as La Dispute. If you’ve never seen these incredibly intense, unquestionably energetic humans your life is lacking. Lit by only several small fresnel lights (lights used on film and television sets) the band encompassed the stage with their uncanny delivery of music and posture. Performing such monster hits as “Nobody, Not Even the Rain,” “Andria,” and “Such Small Hands” the band was able to heat up the night in preparation for the headliner, Thrice. At one point during their set lead vocalist Jordan Dreyer jumped down to where the barricades met the fans and preceded to scream profusely into his microphone, simultaneously blocking a photographer’s camera with his hand.
At 10PM sharp the lights dimmed yet again for what would become one of the greatest sets of the year. Forming in 1998, Thrice has been around for the greater part of my life. They’ve been vital in helping to create my addiction to music.
Thrice
As lead singer Dustin Kensrue and company walked out onto the stage there was an unexplainable feeling that spread through my veins – it was as though the goose bumps I originally had matured into something else, something far more intense. Luckily for me, as soon as the band began playing the emotion of pure bliss and excitement took precedence.
The band’s backdrop was that of their new album’s cover art; black and white TV static scrambling into several distinguishable parts, complete with a mountain-like range.
After a few minuets of the band tinkering with their instruments the song “Hurricane” off their recently released album To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere began it’s journey through the venue, taking captive all of the fans and locking them up for what would be a night for the books. Following the opening track was a fan favorite “Silhouette” off the group’s highly acclaimed album The Artist In The Ambulance.
Unlike most rock bands Thrice doesn’t provide much fan interaction, relying on each other’s mid-song meet-ups at drummer Riley Breckenridge’s kit for inspiration and validation. Another unusual part to the band’s DNA is their lack of performing an onslaught of loud, heavy hitting tracks. While they have a full arsenal of rowdy, powerful songs the band elected to change it up a tad, resorting to creating a set list that took the crowd on a journey thought the night rather than a journey through a mosh pit.
Closing the night up the band returned to the stage for a much deserved encore featuring the tracks “Artist In The Ambulance,” “In Years To Come,” and “Between The End And Where We Lie.”
Thrice is on tour with La Dispute and Gates for the next several weeks. For more information, visit Thrice’s website. Additionally, Thrice has announced yet another show in Los Angeles in October. This time at The Novo.
Check out the photos below of Thrice with La Dispute at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo.
Words & Photography: Timmy Farmer
La Dispute
La Dispute
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