Photo courtesy of Thrice.net
For 13 years, alternative-rock band, Thrice, has saturated the airwaves with their creative serenades. From the punk drums and raw vocals of Identity Crisis, to the artistic maturity and flawless flow of Major/Minor, time has been kind to the band’s sonic progression, as well as its fans — until now. Thrice is currently touring the country and saying goodbye to its fans.
Over the last decade, the band has been on countless tours, produced numerous singles, and released eight full-length albums. On top of their work as musicians, the home lives of the band have grown, as well. On Nov. 21 of last year, frontman Dustin Kensrue announced on the band’s website that they would, “be taking a break from being a full-time band” so that he and other members can dedicate more time to their families. According to Kensrue, Thrice isn’t breaking up, but going on hiatus.
At one point during his announcement Kensrue said, “I do know that I would love to make more music in the future with [Thrice], as well as play some shows or short tours, but for the time being, I need to step out of the role of a full time touring [and] recording musician.”
As a celebration of the last 13 years, Thrice put together a “Farewell Tour” with bands O’Brother and Animals as Leaders. The band also conducted polls and allowed fans to vote for the songs they would play on the tour.
When Thrice visited Denver June 6, the floor of the Summit Music Hall was bustling with a sold out crowd.
After Animals as Leaders was done shredding on stage, the crowd went crazy at the sight of Thrice. As far as they knew, this could quite possibly be the last time Thrice would be playing in the Mile High City. They played classics like “Image of the Invisible” and “Red Sky” from Vheissu, a majority of Major/Minor, and many songs from masterpiece album The Alchemy Index Vols. I-IV.
For the entire show, the band’s high energy spilled from the stage. The crowd responded with raised fists, applause and screams. The fans were rewarded with not one, but two encores and nearly two hours of music.
“The show was awesome, but bittersweet since it was their farewell show,” said Thrice fan Shannon Shumaker.
By the end of the second encore, a handful of fans strained to try and catch one last glimpse of the band behind the stage curtain.
Before stepping outside, one last look at the empty stage sent a tinge of disbelief through my stomach. Deep down there was hope that this wasn’t a true “farewell” and Thrice would allow their Denver fans an another mesmerizing performance. But for now, thank you Thrice, for an amazing decade of captivating tune, inspiring lyrics, and beautiful art. Until next time, I guess this is farewell.
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