Live Review: Thrice and Palm Reader | The Marble Factory, Bristol | 23/02/24
Returning to our shores to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Artist In The Ambulance, Thrice once again prove their approach to post-hardcore remains ever timeless.
Palm Reader
It’s been one flaming hot minute since we’ve heard from Church Road Record’s finest. After a barnstorming few years off the back of their brilliant 2020 record Sleepless, Palm Reader were uncharacteristically quiet in 2023. Given how the band spent the last decade or so honing their craft before an audience seemingly every night , would be forgiven in thinking their dynamically serrated blades would be dulled with the passing of time. However, tonight’s events show that such concerns are ultimately redundant. Tonight, in the massive and cavernous room that is The Marble Factory, Palm Reader retain their status as being a cut above the rest.
Now a seven person collective following the recruitment of Matt Reynolds (Haggard Cat, Heck) on guitars / feral screams and Sam Jones (ex-The Hyena Kill) on synths, Palm Reader seem like a band made anew. As they open with ‘Hold/Release’ prior to navigating the furious and compounding dynamism that serves as the foundation of ‘Internal Winter’ and ‘Willow’ with a level of impassion that borders upon being genuinely intimating, Palm Reader grasp the attention of masses gathered tightly within their collective hands.
However, it’s the towering precess and flawless delivery of vocalist Josh Keown that proves to be the driving force of Palm Reader as a live entity. Tonight, before this 1500 capacity venue he articulates – quite literally – the unfettered dynamism that’s synonymous with this band in a way that outshines their peers. A truly immersive performance of ‘Inertia’ and one of the most intense, punishing and damn near pulverising renditions of ‘Swarm’ the band have ever performed make this sentiment irrefutable. Sadly those wishing for new material may be left wanting, but regardless of this and the cataract inducing light show, Palm Reader are still absolutely blinding live.
Photo Credit: Zee Asher
Thrice
“We’re Thrice and this is The Artist In The Ambulance”, states Dustin Kensrue following tonight’s opener ‘Cold Cash and Colder Hearts’. It feels like a pointless statement, as clearly, everybody present knows such a fact already given the mass hysteria. Here this evening performing the aforementioned record in its entirety in celebration of its belated 20th anniversary, they incite the kind of fevered reaction that can only come from being a dearly beloved fixture in the scene for decades. And as they breathlessly tearing the respective record with the kind of flawless precision that can only come from years of performing these songs night after night, year after year, Thrice, frankly, are untouchable.
Yes, these songs may be older than some of the bar staff within this venue, but tonight the band absolutely treat these tracks with the reverence and care they deserve. There’s no apathetic coasting present and nor do the band lazily phone-in the performance. Instead, they pay this record the diligence it demands, and in return, the capacity crowd before them revel in this set with the kind of fever that can only come from adoring these songs for decades. Whilst the average attendee within this room may be well settled within the throes of middle age and no doubt has a babysitter at home on tic, within the crowd and pit there is only carnage to be old. As Thrice fly through the bonafide flesh flayers that are ‘Paper Tigers’ and ‘Hoods On Peregrine’ as well as the anthemic nature of ‘Stare At The Sun’ tonight the population of Bristol forget about the humdrum nature of work, rapidly fading hair, expending waistlines and the bored childminders at home awaiting payment in order to revert to the happier and youthful days these songs originally soundtracked upon release.
If anything, tonight just shows how timeless this record is. There’s no needless banter from the band; not that the audience wishes for it anyway. Tonight, all the people want is this album delivered in the way it was intended and clearly Thrice are more than happy to oblige such a request. This album may have been the catalyst for the post hardcore revolution that the noughties hosted, but the flawless performance of this record shows that The Artist In The Ambulance still stands tall over the countless bodies of work that it’s inspired, and still inspires.
Photo Credit: Zee Asher
Of course though, tonight isn’t just reserved for this singular record and snapshot of time within Thrice’s legacy of a career. In fact, as the post-hardcore pioneers divert from the final track of the record to ‘Deadbolt’ and material from their most recent endeavour Horizons / East, the showcase of flawless musicianship that this is set proves to be more of a visceral and immersive demonstration of Thrice’s evolution as a creative collective. The band may openly refer to it “sampling if their other material”, but clearly, it’s more than that. It’s a swift albeit detailed documentation of the bands musical journey; a road the vast majority of the crowd here have traveled alongside the band and one they are overjoyed to recount as they openly celebrate these select cuts from the bands impressive discography.
However, one fact from this show is clear; the band’s journey as creatives is far from over. Thrice honestly sound better than ever before tonight, a sentiment that a colossal performance of ‘Yellow Belly’, ‘The Long Defeat’ and ‘Of Dust And Nations’ pays testament to, and whilst this evening may be mostly dedicated to a singular moment within Thrice’s lifespan, it ultimately comes to pass that this show is a testament of their continued longevity and their unwavering standing in the genre that they helped mould. As the population of Bristol sift from this venue following the street shattering closer that this ‘The Earth Will Shake’, one cannot help but wonder if tonight will just ultimately become just one of many celebrations honouring the band’s forever enduring legacy and their forever consistent discography. 20th anniversary tour of Vheissu next year anyone?
Photo Credit: Zee Asher