Published by Bernard on 15 Aug 2011 at 03:05 pm
Thrice (Yost Theater. August 13, 2011)
Thrice really doesn’t need an introduction. They’ve been one of my favorite bands for years now and it was such a pleasure to be able to shoot an entire set and even roam around backstage (it was a hallway, don’t get excited). The Yost Theater just recently reopened its doors and it was the perfect setting for a sold out show at home.
Opening for Thrice was Kiev. Anyone who has been to a Thrice show knows you can’t really expect the openers to sound a certain way. These guys put on a great performance and their music is easily enjoyable. My friend Liz said they reminded her of Radiohead. I think it’s a valid comparison, so be sure to check out Kiev’s tunes ASAP. Before finishing their set, they mentioned they will be back with 3D projections. YouTube this because it looks absolutely amazing!
After countless chants of their name, the curtains of the Yost stage gave way to Thrice. Everyone on the floor immediately lost their minds! Having been in the studio, it’s been a while since Thrice played and the crowd welcomed them with cheers and singing their own lyrics back to them. While I was shooting, a little streak of white ran into my viewfinder. I put my camera down to see Teppei’s son wearing his hearing protection headphones and waving at his dad on stage. It made me smile to see that even with family obligations, Thrice still pumps out amazing music and tours for their fans.
Thrice played a good selection of music from their expansive catalog. As an old fan, there are songs I really wish they would still play live but I can’t help but let my jaw drop at the new songs. The new music off of the upcoming “Major/Minor” is absolutely amazing. When “Anthology” was played I was blown away by how beautiful that song is. I was excited for the new album before, but hearing a good handful live made me extremely anxious for the release. Thrice ended the night with an encore performance of “Deadbolt,” much to fans’ delight. I love this song, but I’m getting tired of it being the most screamed-for piece at shows. They know it’s a crowd favorite so they’ll play it. I know Thrice put their heart into performing that last song, but I get the feeling that they’re also tired of hearing “DEADBOLT!” chanted repeatedly between every song. In any case, it was the perfect cap to a wonderful night of live music at a great new Southern California venue, the Yost Theater.
Many thanks to Paul at Big Picture Media for setting me up to shoot tonight. Thanks to the Yost Theater staff for putting on a great show. Hello to my friends at the show, great to see you all!
Chad S on 15 Aug 2011 at 5:46 pm #
I was at this show and it was a Great time. My group met Dustin walking down the parking structure and were blown away by a 3 minute conversation and photo op he posed for before jogging past the long entrance line once they recognized him. It amazes me that despite being the lead singer of kind-of-a-big-deal band he’s still got time for fans, probably who were talking a little faster than he could understand. (i invited him to my churches weekly dodgeball games then my sister offered him cheesecake, we told him about a christian childrens story My girlfriend and i are working on, asked him about his church, and offered all the junk food in our car in a segment of conversation that lasted about 30 seconds) it would have been the highlight of our night if we didnt hear them play 5 new songs off Major / Minor. Our 5th Thrice show, and we saw Dustin do his solo stuff live once, but by far our best experience ever. The Yost theater is SMALL. usually that would be a bad thing but not here, it was an intimate small group, maximum occupancy of 700 people including balcony and reserved seating, and both side walls were lined with seats, which my group were lucky enough to snag. The further back rows were calm and respectful while the Mosh was all energy. one thing to say about a small show like this one was that the hardcore Thrice fans got thier tickets first, and that was the majority of this show. Every person thier had thier fist in the air, the energy when both old songs and new were played was incredible, and it seemed like all Thrice had to do was play the music, the crowd knew the choruses. Big props to the Yost theater for both the setup, and the security there. A few of the girls in my group (and many girls nearby who later thanked me) were being harrassed by a creepy older drunk gentlaman i will name as “Not-A-Thrice-Fan” and after confronting the guy himself, i am proud to say security removed him, to keep the setting worry free. after that it was the best show ive been too but by no means will it be the last. As a fan this was definatly the one to be at if you lived withing 100 miles like I. what i walked away with from this one was, a new profile picture of us and Dustin, the best show i’ve been to, confortable seating 30 feet from the stage for free, and this is the only Show they have between Major / Minor release and thier next show, so we heard it first. Thats a big deal, we want to thank Thrice and the Yost for letting us be a part of it.
oh and i agree about Deadbolt, They have some fantastic stuff out there, and fans know to love every new CD, then they read the lyrics and have a new appreciation for it. Deadbolt is a little dated, they have plenty of fresh stuff that blows me out of the water when i go back to it, between Vehissu and Beggars, theres not one song i can say I could choose to chant above the others. I would love to hear Lullaby though live, and ill get another shot at that the next show.