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An open letter to Geoff Rickly of Thursday:

Dear Geoff;

I'm sorry you're sick. Again. I've seen your band now over half a dozen times over the years and I think there have been two shows where you've been healthy. Perhaps it's the same flu that made the drummer of We're.All.Broken to sit out the set. Don't worry, though, Tucker did an amazing job for filling in.

I guess I'll start with them. Tucker was probably the highlight of their set, and he learned the drums to their show in two hours. They weren't bad per se, just really lopsided. One minute they reminded me of Sunny Day Real Estate. The next minute they reminded me of the late `90s nü-metal wave that was shitting all over the radio. They had a great stage presence, don't get me wrong. But I tend to tune out a band that uses three guitars and still feels the need for pre-programmed sounds. For a band with such energy, it's a shame their music didn't really back it up. Also, you might want to talk to them about their name...I think it's We're.All.Broken, but when they announced themselves to the crowd, they said, "We're All Broken from New Jersey." Shouldn't it be, "We're We're.All.Broken from New Jersey?" It's just really confusing.

When I had heard you were bringing out the Number 12 Looks Like You on tour, I got pretty excited. On record they might be a tad generic as far as grindcore and excessive breakdowns are concerned, but sometimes it's nice to have a little bit of that to mix up a set. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that this band had two singers. See, I sort of alluded to the fact earlier that I don't like it when bands have too many of something... Three guitars seems like too much with another computerized soundtrack in the background. Two vocalists alternating the same tone scream and headbanging doesn't seem logical. There was absolutely no need to have two guys on stage, except so one could scream while the other was headbanging. I will say that the main guitarist was absolutely amazing and breathtaking to watch; his skills are far beyond that of what you might expect from a band such as this. Some of the crowd seemed to be in to it, specifically the kid next to me screaming along. For being 15 he pulled off that "I'm trying to sound like a bitter old grandma" scream really well.

Minus the Bear wasn't on this date, and that's a drag. What is even more of a drag is that the time allotted wasn't made up for -- you guys only played for an hour total, including the short break before the encore. It was nice to hear half the set taken from Full Collapse, but every song you played I've seen before. Why not mix it up, and play "I Am the Killer" or "Wind Up?" Instead of the obvious choices from War All the Time, why not "M. Shepard" or "Tomorrow I'll Be You?"

I guess this is the pitfalls of being a bigger band now. The band gets bigger and the fans get younger. I felt incredibly out of place being 23. Maybe it's just because you booked a show in a college town during Spring Break.

Don't get me wrong -- none of this reflects poorly on the band actually playing. In fact, this is the tightest I've ever seen Thursday play. You're at the top of your game. The drumming was outstanding. The guitars were perfectly in sync. Even your vocals were top notch, hitting every note right on. The new songs -- "The Other Side of the Crash" and "Counting 5-4-3-2-1" -- really tore shit up and made me excited for the new record.

Maybe I caught this tour on an off night. There seemed to be plenty of illness and the fact that half the crowd would have been 12 when Full Collapse came out caught me off guard. This is just what happens with bands. I still enjoyed myself, and was glad to give some money towards a tour with such a good cause, but I don't think I'll be making the nearly two-hour trek to Eugene again. To drive that far to hear the eleven-song set list and see two mediocre opening acts just isn't worth what they're charging for gas these days. I'd heard rumors of 18 or 19-song sets with 4 or 5 new songs, songs I've been waiting quite a long time to hear. Again, maybe it's just because you're sick, but it's pretty weak to have this nice small setting and not be exposed to many new or exciting things.

Bad shows are bound to happen, it's just the way things go. This won't detract me from seeing you again, because if the couple new songs I did hear are any indication, there is plenty good to look forward to.

Hope you're feeling better,
Colin






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    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-04-08 17:44:06

    Not really. Thursday screams from time to time, Atreyu is mainly screaming with a little singing.

    But musically I can't find a similarity and it's only inevitable for some tendencies, in their basic forms, to be similar to others, even if the bands aren't.

    Posted by rkl on 2006-04-07 17:21:43

    ive listened to atreyus first album far more times than i care to admit(lets just say it was a fucked up summer), and the only thursday song i can place is that one about wings of the dove.
    i didnt say they were the same band, but stylistically, theyre not all that different.
    see: previous post.

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-04-07 10:44:09

    Everything is different.

    It's like comparing Britney Spears to Green day or to Killswitch Engage because they all have singing in it.

    Listen to 'Creature' or 'Our Sick Story' by Atreyu and then 'Counting 5-4-3-2-1' by Thursday and tell me they're similar.

    Posted by rkl on 2006-04-06 20:04:03

    what are the major differences, exactly?

    thursday and atreyu are about as different as jughead's revenge and the offspring.

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-04-06 18:57:52

    Saying Thursday and Atreyu are similar is worse than any of the opinions on my reviews.

    If you think their similar then you sir are an idiot.

    Posted by rkl on 2006-04-06 17:50:47

    they both have the alternating sing/scream thing.
    atreyu may be a bit heavier, but the style of music isnt all that different.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at 12:15 PM (EDT)

    If you think Thursday and Atreyu are in the same boat, you need your head examined.

    Either that, or you should try listening to both bands more than 4 seconds.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at 11:05 AM (EDT)

    Colin you give someone shit for giving Atreyu a 9? Them and Thursday are in the same boat of shitty bands that aren't punk rock.

    Posted by colin on 2006-04-06 02:35:30

    What the fuck?! Is you retarded?

    nope.

    You should feel like a douchebag for writing a piss-poor review.

    Quit hating on people who liked good tunes when they were 12 and kill yourself.

    i'm not 'hating on' anyone. i don't expend that much energy on a message board. i'm just defending my points, that's all. as for the part you quoted - while the band played well, the set was incredibly short, hence maybe they didn't play all the songs they play on the rest of the tour because of geoff being sick.

    then again, it's kind of hard to defend yourself againt such amazing and original thoughts as "kill yourself." really, do you have any comprehension of life at all? this is the internet. it's a show review. get over yourself.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at 2:22 AM (EDT)

    "...this is the tightest I've ever seen Thursday play. You're at the top of your game. The drumming was outstanding. The guitars were perfectly in sync. Even your vocals were top notch, hitting every note right on.

    Maybe I caught this tour on an off night."

    What the fuck?! Is you retarded?

    "I felt incredibly out of place being 23."

    You should feel like a douchebag for writing a piss-poor review.

    Quit hating on people who liked good tunes when they were 12 and kill yourself.

    Posted by -sidewalk- on 2006-04-05 22:51:52

    "i was just saying it's pretty obvious you're eating up what they serve you at this point"

    hahahaaaa. classic.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 5:43 PM (EDT)

    The Number Twelve Sounds Like Poo

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-04-05 14:06:58

    And now I hate Slipknot and Linkin Park.

    I like the rest of the bands mentioned.

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-04-05 14:05:49

    one of these days you'll learn how to correctly discern "your" from "you're," and you'll also probably learn how to formulate an arguement.

    I typed it fast and typo'd. I do know the difference.

    Ironically, my favorite bands when I was 12 were a mixed bag. While I did like Slipknot and Linkin Park at 12, some of my favorite bands were Millencolin, Pennywise, Deviates, Rancid, and Bad Religion.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 1:03 PM (EDT)

    My favorite bands when I was 17 was At the drive-in, hot water music and propagandhi. I still think that those bands are or were freaking awsome so...

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 12:18 PM (EDT)

    Not really a burn. I'm 17 now and if it's a crime to be 17 then your an idiot.

    it's not a crime to be 17, jackass, but let me spell this out for you:

    as you grow older, your taste and appreciation of music grows, too. when i was 17 i was listening to god awful music, too. don't worry, you'll grow out of it. one of these days you'll learn how to correctly discern "your" from "you're," and you'll also probably learn how to formulate an arguement.

    listen, i wasn't trying to tell you that you're somehow a criminal, i was just saying it's pretty obvious you're eating up what they serve you at this point, which is okay, you're still young. god knows i've had some regrets with the scores of some of the reviews i've done.

    point being, don't try to fuck with me. i'm smarter than you are, and you won't win a debate with me when you can't even figure out what the hell i'm talking about.

    -colin at work

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-04-05 11:12:11

    Not really a burn. I'm 17 now and if it's a crime to be 17 then your an idiot.

    Posted by rkl on 2006-04-05 11:10:00

    defending thursday while shitting on atreyu seems an awfully odd way to go.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 10:58 PM (EDT)

    Posted by sickboi on 2006-04-04 00:55:44

    I really disliked Thursday until War All the Time....great album.

    That said, everyone always rants and raves about Thursday and A3 live, but everytime I've seen either, its meh-ville.

    I can't vouch for Thursday, but Alkaline Trio is my favorite band and even I think they're kinda "meh" live. I'll still see them every time I can, but I would understand if someone wasn't into them after seeing their show.

    -somegirl

    Posted by ElVaquero on 2006-04-04 15:14:29

    good burn colin, completely dead on

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 12:37 PM (EDT)

    Hahahaha.

    I was 12 when it came out.

    which doesn't surprise me. you gave atreyu a 9.

    -colin at work

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2006-04-04 11:41:21

    the fact that half the crowd would have been 12 when Full Collapse came out caught me off guard.

    Hahahaha.

    I was 12 when it came out.

    Posted by colin on 2006-04-04 11:39:30

    colin. i like you. so i'm not necesarily talking shit. but concept reviews are generally only good when the concept hasn't been used a million times.

    also the number twelve are fucking horrible. who enjoys that shit?

    sorry to rant.

    i know, i generally stay away from reviews like this, but i've been reviewing a lot of stuff lately and i didn't want it to all become the same. whether or not this one was successful, it still at least was different.

    so wait, geoff was sick, but the vocals were right on?

    yeah, it was weird. i've never seen him stay this on key before. during one of the new songs he hit some really, really impressive notes.

    Posted by skankin_in_the_pit on 2006-04-04 10:58:38

    Bill is right. Thursday's Negative Approach cover is unbelievably bad. I burned a cd of like 25 N.A. covers before I'd even really listened to the songs and I put it between Madball's horrible version of "Ready To Fight" and Biohazard's awful version "Friend Or Foe." I have to skip over those three tracks immediately every time they come up, but the Thursday song is by far the worst.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 10:30 AM (EDT)

    so wait, geoff was sick, but the vocals were right on? i can't wait for the boston show...minus the bearrrrrrrrrrrr

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 10:13 AM (EDT)

    thursday sucks

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2006-04-04 04:36:59

    colin. i like you. so i'm not necesarily talking shit. but concept reviews are generally only good when the concept hasn't been used a million times.

    also the number twelve are fucking horrible. who enjoys that shit?

    sorry to rant.

    Posted by the_other_scott on 2006-04-04 02:34:28

    colin. i like you. so i'm not necesarily talking shit. but concept reviews are generally only good when the concept hasn't been used a million times.

    also the number twelve are fucking horrible. who enjoys that shit?

    sorry to rant.

    Posted by the_other_scott on 2006-04-04 02:34:27

    colin. i like you. so i'm not necesarily talking shit. but concept reviews are generally only good when the concept hasn't been used a million times.

    also the number twelve are fucking horrible. who enjoys that shit?

    sorry to rant.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2006-04-04 01:42:05

    Anyone else ever hear Thursday covering the Negative Approach song "Evacuate?" It's one of the most god awful things I've ever heard in my life.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 1:23 AM (EDT)

    full collapse > war all the time

    Posted by sickboi on 2006-04-04 00:55:44

    I really disliked Thursday until War All the Time....great album.

    That said, everyone always rants and raves about Thursday and A3 live, but everytime I've seen either, its meh-ville.

    Posted by sickboi on 2006-04-04 00:55:16

    I really disliked Thursday until

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 12:33 AM (EDT)

    this band puts on one of the tightest live shows i've ever seen.

    cannot wait for sonar in may. small venue, amazing live show.

    oh, and you guys definetely got the weak end of the openers.

    we get minus the bear and me without you.

    neener neener neener.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 12:26 AM (EDT)

    The one time I saw Thursday live was a treat.

    The only band I ever really enjoyed that had the "Thursday" sound, but man I used to enjoy the hell out of Full Collapse and the other CD on Eyeball that I never remember the name of since I never had a real copy, just a burn.

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2006-04-04 00:06:09
    My Score:

    I don't understand the appeal of Thursday. I mean..they're ok.

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