In some ways, it was just like old times when post-hardcore hero Thrice hit the stage Oct. 14 at the Soma in San Diego. Front man Dustin Kensrue sang with a sense of urgency and passion, guitarist Teppei Teranishi effortlessly hammered out insanely catchy Iron Maiden-meets-hardcore punk riffs, and the devoted faithful feverishly crowded the front of the stage while screaming along to every word.
At the same time, though, it’s obvious that the Orange County natives have come a long way since the rock-you-until-you-have-no-choice-but-to-surrender days of “Phoenix Ignition” and “T&C.”
The band’s most recent release, 2005’s “Vheissu,” was a slower and more contemplative affair that proved the guys could do more than turn the amps to 11 and bring the heavy riffs.
Considering this shift to a more delicate and thoughtful sound, it’s not surprising that Thrice kept things relatively mellow during the 90-minute long set, which was the last show on its October tour before it played at the Bamboozle Left festival in Pomona the next day.
The night was kicked off by opening sets from post-hardcore outfits Planes Mistaken For Stars and These Arms Are Snakes.
When Thrice took the stage and started things off with one of it’s many propulsive anthems, Thrice devoted much of the first part of the set to a number of atmospheric yet hard-rocking tracks from “Vheissu” (“Music Box,” “Atlantic” and “Of Dust and Nations”).
Kensrue and crew also played a pair of songs off of the forthcoming four disc album (yes, you read that correctly). Both of these songs are slower and more meditative which continue in the musical direction established with “Vheissu.” The fans responded positively to these new songs, but a feeling of restlessness began to build up in the crowd.
Of course, this being a Thrice show, those restless feelings didn’t last long when the band offered its loyal following some opportunities to mosh and triumphantly raise their fists in the air. The band brought the hammer down on the fast-and-furious cuts “The Red Death” and “In Years to Come,” both of which were originally featured on the 2002 release “The Illusion of Safety.”
The band lost power for a few minutes, but Kensrue saved the day by busting out his acoustic guitar to play “Stare at the Sun” while the crowd enthusiastically sang along.
Once power was restored, Thrice kept the pace swift and steady with the drum-propelled “Where Idols Once Stood” and the heavier “Don’t Tell and We Won’t Ask.” Thrice even dusted off the take-no-prisoners onslaught “To What End” from the 2001 debut LP “Identity Crisis.”
Most notably, Thrice ended its set with the surging song “Red Sky” instead of the fan favorite “Deadbolt,” which had long been the designated closer at all shows.
This change is representative of Thrice’s decision to be more adventurous and musically experimental. The band is still ready and willing to bring the rock, but it’s not content to rehash the trademark post-hardcore/metal hybrid sound. Although some Thrice fans want their heroes to get rid of the keyboards and record another album like “The Artist in the Ambulance,” it is obvious that the guys are musically ambitious and want to expand their sound. Saturday’s deliberately paced yet intense set made that perfectly clear.
