Thursday w/ Touche Amore
Showbox Sodo, Seattle, WA
04.15.17
This show was never supposed to happen. Six years ago, New Jersey post-hardcore outfit Thursday went on hiatus with little hope of a return. But that’s one of the beauties of music. It brings people back together. And this night was all about Thursday being back together on tour.
Right from the start things were fast, loud, and bright as the Showbox Sodo stage was flooded with strobe lights during the opening song, “For the Workforce, Drowning.” At the end of the track, vocalist Geoff Rickly introduced the second song, “The Other Side of the Crash,” by saying they were going to be playing some old songs then caught himself – adding that all of the songs they play now are old.
In between each song, Rickly spoke to the crowd, revealing what a song was about or something about being back together as a band. After “Beyond The Visible Spectrum,” Rickly took the opportunity to talk about the backdrop which was only partly present.
At the back of the stage, hung from the ceiling, were two spirit banners. One read “Refugees Welcome Here” and the other “Protect Immigrant Communities.” Rickly explained, “We have played all over the country and some agree with us and some don’t. But this is something very important to us.” Loud cheers and applause came from the crowd upon saying this, Seattle becoming one of the cities to agree. “This matters a lot to us. And if it upsets you then you should have been offended a long time ago because we have been writing songs about this for a long time.” Perfectly following up that statement Thursday led into, “Autobiography of a Nation,” a favorite they have been playing for a while.
The music Thursday has written for the last 14-plus years has always had significant meaning and purpose. The timing of their reemergence on the scene is probably no coincidence.
Rickly started by counting down 5-4-3-2-1 before the band started into one of their top rated songs, so appropriately titled “Counting 5-4-3-2-1.” The lead singer from the opening band, Touche Amore’s Jereme Bolm, joined them on stage to help sing along. They traded back and forth on the lyrics.
Always a generous human, Rickly praised the openers and shared how happy he was with the lineup on this tour including Basement and Touche Amore. He was impressed by all of the wonderful music and talented musicians on this tour. Thursday played their next song, “Hole in the Wall,” in honor of them.
As the night went on, the bright strobe lights continued to backlight each member to the crowd. The songs on the set list got better and better as the set came to end. The evening finished with two of the best songs, “Understanding in a Car Crash” and “War all the Time.” The night left the enthusiastic crowd hoping that this won’t be the last Thursday tour.
Review and Photos by Logan Westom
Thursday
