Three Times Brings the “Horizons / East” Tour to the Hollywood Palladium (Review)

The Thrice which records and tours in 2021 is not the Thrice which formed in 1998 in Orange County, California. Over the years the band – guitarist / vocalist Dustin Kensrue, guitarist Teppei Teranishi, bassist Ed Breckenridge and drummer Riley Breckenridge – have grown from their early punk / screamo roots to something entirely original and authentic.

This was made as evident as ever in September with Horizons / East, the band’s 11th studio album to date. A deep, experimental-leaning record featuring some of the most dynamic compositions the band have explored in some time, it’s another extremely unpredictable entry in a catalog that’s chock full of them.

On Friday, Thrice performed at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, one of the final stops on the band’s tour in support of the new record. On the road, Thrice typically grapples with the problem of Who We Are Now vs. Who We Were Then by dotting a few “fan favorites” (read: early items) in song lists, which are usually heavy with new items. This was again the case at the Palladium, the evening’s set list combining six new songs with a handful of the band’s rich catalog, including two tracks from Vheissu and the title song of The artist in the ambulance, one of the group’s first successes.

THE! A big thank you for the welcome at home last night. We are very grateful to everyone who came and sang with us. Such a journey to perform a play with so much incredible history. ❤️

One more in OC tonight, and then this tour is a wrap. Can. Not. Wait.
: @Masontrueblood pic.twitter.com/0ERqRqqETA

– THREE (@Thrice) October 30, 2021

Musically, the band sounded absolutely perfect thanks to the sound system in the hall. Kensrue’s voice, which can be taxing on the road at times, was in great shape, and the band’s chemistry on stage rarely sounded more in sync.

A smooth light show lit up the stage behind them, creating a digital fiery backdrop for “Firebreather” and accompanying Horizons / East particularly good material:

Of course, Thrice shows sometimes run into a problem specific to the history of their albums: fans who are only there for the first more aggressive stuff and don’t seem to really get excited about the new material (despite its depth and maturity, which goes against the juvenile rage of the first discs). It came to a head at one point during the Palladium concert when a fan kept shouting song titles at the band, which balked at such unexpected fan behavior, with Kensrue saying something like ” We asked you before to stop shouting songs. chez nous ”, before entering a slower new song called“ Dandelion Wine ”.

Click here to retrieve Horizons / East on CD from our Rock Cellar Store
Click here to retrieve Horizons / East on LP from our Rock Cellar Store

Despite the visible frustrations of moments like this – which is understandable, honestly, given the creative growth the group has experienced over the years, now in their 23rd year as a Creative Unit, versus those who just want them. Tunes from the Warped Tour Era – Three times quaked and delivered a set of deeply engaging tracks spanning their entire careers.

Older tracks, which included those mentioned above and “Of Dust and Nations” and “The Earth Will Shake,” harder Vheissu songs that should satiated those crudely screaming for older material, sitting comfortably next to new songs like “Summer Set Fire to the Rain” and “Scavengers”.

Most of Thrice’s concerts feature this old versus new dynamic, and it can be a distinct experience when it comes to crowd mood. To the group’s credit, the live show almost always features something to make ‘old school’ fans happy – but going to a Three Times show in 2021 and expecting a 2001 songlist is a recipe for success. disappointment.

Anyone who does this is missing out on a chance to fully appreciate Thrice as he is today: one of the most powerful live bands around.

Touché Amoré was also Loud, the Los Angeles-based post-hardcore group who opened the show with energetic and passionate music. At the time of their set, most of the fans had not yet dropped off inside the venue (or were in the bars), but the group propelled themselves undeterred by the abundant space in the mosh. pit with intense songs from the 2020s Lament and 2016 Fourth step, led by singer Jeremy Bolm and his dynamic stage presence.

The Palladium three-time set list on October 29, 2021:

The color of the sky
Scavengers
The artist in the ambulance
Honey Black
Everyone is crazy
From dust and nations
In exile
Summer sets the rain on fire
hurricane
Buried in the sun
Breathe
Soft Exorcism Robot
Dandelion wine
The long defeat
fire eater
The earth will shake

Bis:
Beyond the pines
Anthology