Thrice // Palm Reader // Live Review // The Marble Factory // Bristol
Blue lights and fog greet Palm Reader as they hit the stage to an already decent-sized crowd in this support slot for Thrice. Launching into ‘Hold/Release’ from their 2020 album ‘Sleepless’ their sound is a mixture of melodic, doom metal riffs and heavy, hardcore, punk-inspired ballads, getting the audience going on a cold and wet evening.
They blast through ‘Internal Winter’ and ‘Stay down’, it’s a busy stage with a keyboard player and an extra guitarist augmenting their usual quintet. A seething barrage of metal, seven musicians make the sound very big and somewhat messy, not helped by the acoustics of this venue – but no judgment here as the crowd are loving it.
‘Willow’ ‘Swarm’ and ‘Inertia’ follow with vocalist Josh Mckeown roaring at the crowd. Heads of their devotees are nodding hypnotically in the strobing lights as they reach the end of their set with ‘A Bird and its Feathers’. A quick ‘Thank you so much’ and it’s over. This band are definitely worth catching live.
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California Orange County veterans Thrice arrive to an enormous roar from the crowd, the venue is sold out for this show which begins with a 20th anniversary tribute to their 2003 album ‘The Artist in the Ambulance’, which they play in full to an ecstatic response from their devoted fans.
The crowd response is phenomenal and frenzied, it’s not long before a hard-core mosh pit erupts and crowd-surfers are being carried to the front. Security is well-organised, safe and sensible, there’s a decent gap between the audience and the stage and a team is in place to ensure they are rescued and sent around again.
The band are super-tight, brilliant musicianship on show, honed to perfection. Bassist Eddie Breckenridge and his brother, drummer Riley Breckenridge form a formidable rhythm section and lead guitarist Teppei Teranishi’s riffing is the perfect accompaniment. Completed by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dustin Kensrue, their mix of post-hardcore with punk, thrash and a progressive edge, demoed by their use of complex time signatures and songs split into slower, melodic sections and heavy, fast thrash-fests is a treat to watch live.
After ‘Don’t tell and we won’t ask’ concludes their playthrough of ‘The Artist in the Ambulance’, they launch into a second set of songs from their long and successful career as a band. ‘Motion isn’t Meaning’ prompts another ear-splitting roar from one of the most appreciative crowds I’ve ever seen. Plenty of clap-alongs, fist pumping and the occasional singalong as they play the favourites. There are no long solos or big changes in pace and it’s just what the audience wants. ‘The Long Defeat’ ends the set but it’s clear we’re going to be treated to an encore.
Thrice soon hit the stage again. ‘We’re gonna do a few more!’ is the shout from Dustin Kensrue and ‘Black Honey’ sees the crowd chanting the chorus. ‘Of Dust and Nations’ with an epic tapping solo is followed by ‘The Earth Will Shake’ a classy slow-paced chant along with an immense bassline and with a brief farewell from Dustin it’s over. A perfectly presented set from a rock band who are masters of their genre.
Review: Dave Smith Price
Photography: Emma Painter // Pacific Curd Photography
