By photojournalist Ryan Marchese
Seeing Thrice Friday night at Jannus Live was so cathartic. I spent the past week writing up an album review for Horizons/West, interviewing Teppei Teranishi, and then covering their meet and greet/record signing at Daddy Kool Records. When I wasn’t working on something Thrice related for TBMN, I had one of their records spinning in anticipation for the show. Although it may not have been sold-out, it certainly felt like it was. The venue was packed by the time they took the stage and every person in the crowd knew every word. I’ve followed Thrice across states and stages but covering them at this moment in their journey, with all the growth, wisdom, and evolution that time brings, made this the most memorable.
Opening for a band as seasoned as Thrice is no small task, but Oklahoma’s Downward met the challenge with a quiet confidence that drew the crowd in. Downward’s sound filled the courtyard with an enveloping blend of post-hardcore tension and shoegaze melancholy. Their melodic instrumentals created a textured and moody atmosphere that reminded me of the deliberate intention and more mellow moments that Thrice is known for. The vocals drifted through the mix like another instrument, distant yet deeply human, adding a sense of longing that hung in the night air. By the end of the set, the band had drawn even those unfamiliar with their catalog, nodding along. They didn’t just warm up the stage but set the emotional tone that the successive acts would build upon.
Following Downward’s ethereal opening set, Modern Color took the stage with a surge of unfiltered, raw emotion. This was my first exposure to Modern Color, and they were a blast to photograph. Hailing from South Bay, California, the rock band brought a different kind of weight to the stage. In opposition of the more drawn out, calculated stylings of Downward, Modern Color’s set had an urgency, pairing a melodic grit with a vulnerability that had the crowd moving closer to the stage. What made their set so compelling wasn’t just the heaviness, but the emotion behind it, the warmth and ferocity of the guitars, the precision and drive of the rhythm section, and the impassioned vocals. There was a palpable honesty in the way the band played, every note felt like it meant something. Modern Color served as a perfect transition, bridging the introspective calm of Downward with the emotional gravity that Thrice would bring.
Everything Thrice does feels deeply intentional, so it’s only fitting that their setlist was thoughtfully curated to resonate with fans from every era of their 25+ year career. The band took the stage and went right into “Blackout,” the first track off Horizons/West. As I mentioned in my album review, I was really looking forward to hearing this one. It was meant to be heard live with the way it builds and transforms. Just as expected, when the tempo shifts at the bridge, the crowd was ready to join in singing. “Black out the moon, black out the stars, black out the sun” resonated throughout the courtyard at Jannus. It was beautiful. Over a thousand voices became one at that moment.
And that was just the beginning. As if that wasn’t a strong enough opening, the band went right into “The Artist in the Ambulance.” Anyone who knows Thrice knows the song and its accompanying album. If you’re unfamiliar, it was one of the definitive albums of the early 2000s post hardcore music scene. Needless to say, the crowd erupted as soon as the first few words left Dustin’s lungs. Their set continued on with selections from the last 22 years. They played everything from lighter tracks like “Beyond the Pines” and “For Miles” to one of their newest and most aggressive tracks, “Gnash.” One of my favorites, “Black Honey,” made it into the set which had me take a break from photographing to just be fully immersed in the moment. The hypnotic rhythm of that opening guitar riff combined with the melancholic rasp of Dustin’s voice is bewitching. Another stand out from the set that I was really looking forward to hearing was “Albatross,” which met and surpassed my expectations. Those who stuck around for their encore were treated to the 7th song of the night off the new album, “Vesper’s Light” as well as one of their greatest, aggressive tracks, “Deadbolt.”
Watching Thrice play as I’m on the latter half of my thirties felt like more than just a concert, it was a shared moment of reflection between a band and the fans who’ve grown alongside them. Every lyric, every chord seemed to carry the weight of time, yet the energy was as fresh and urgent as ever. Thrice’s performance at Jannus was more than just another stop on their tour, it was a celebration of endurance, evolution, and connection. After more than two decades, the band continues to play with the same conviction that first earned them their devoted following, yet with a newfound confidence that only years of growth can bring. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, it was a reminder that Thrice’s music still carries the same spark, only now, it burns deeper.
