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Despite the lack of parking due to something going on at The Dunk and Underdog (the movie, not the recently reunited hardcore band) being filmed downtown, I was able to get to the show on time, only to miss We're All Broken while waiting for Matt and Cynthia to show up. I didn't mind waiting, as I needed to cool down from a stressful workday. Plus, I heard that they weren't all that great.
I decided to further cool myself off during mewithoutyou by ordering a Jack and Coke, a beverage I hadn't tasted in awhile. It was strong as a weightlifting mule, and twice as tasty. mewithoutyou didn't sound as good live as on CD. The music was killer and tight, but the spoken word styled vocals (which I love on record) didn't sound as good as I had expected. I happily listened while sipping my drink through a tiny straw, but I was secretly disappointed.
Minus the Bear was the exact opposite of disappointing. They were really great and were able to cheer me up more than the Jack and Coke (I only needed one to calm the old nerves). My one complaint with them is that I don't listen to them nearly enough, which is something I silently scold myself for every time I do end up listening to them. I love their lighthearted and dancy rock sound, and Minus the Bear sounded very similar to their albums. I especially enjoyed the fact that their (new) keyboardist also played a Mac Top (a.k.a. a Mac Laptop).
Thursday was fucking amazing. They sounded very similar to their albums, except they played with more emotion and intensity. Being not all that tall, I couldn't see them very well, but what I could see was a band having a lot of fun playing songs that they've played thousands of times already, with the exception of their new songs, which sounded as if A City by the Light Divided (wouldn't Divided by Light sound better?) is going to blow away War All the Time, which is an excellent album in itself.
The coolest part of their set had to be the ridiculously oversized second bass drum that Tucker Rule had. It didn't seem to serve much of a purpose (although I didn't have the best view, as stated earlier), as there didn't seem to be much he could do with it besides showcase how huge and unnecessary it was. It made for a good visual, as did the four or five pictures they had as a backdrop (I can't accurately describe it, but it was an amazing visual).
Thursday is a very sincere and intense band, one with a message that means something. Their live show has always been amazing, as have their albums. I'm really hoping that A City by the Light Divided gives them the mainstream attention that a lot of other bands in that scene are getting, because, honestly, they are more deserving.
THURSDAY'S SET LIST:
"Understanding in a Car Crash"
"Paris in Flames"
"The Other Side of the Crash/Over and Out (Of Control)" (new song)
"Division St."
"For the Workforce, Drowning"
"Counting 5-4-3-2-1" (new song)
"How Long is the Night?"
"Signals Over the Air"
New Song
"This Message is Brought to You by a Falling Bomb"
"Cross Out the Eyes"
"Love Song Writer" (new song)
"Jet Black New Year"
New Song
"Autobiography of a Nation"
Written by: RF