THRICE PLANES AND SNAKES

Two nights ago Thrice, Planes Mistaken for Stars and These Arms are Snakes played at the Marquee in Tempe. This line up was exceptional if not only because the support was not the typical post-hardcore/scremo bands you might expect to be disgracing the stage at a Thrice show but two bands breaking new ground that may not seem to be in the same vein as Thrice at all.

These Arms are Snakes opened playing their truly bizarre form of dancy hardcore. The way they can mix a drum machine dance beat into a spazy hardcore song with out sounding contrived is astounding. Planes Mistaken for stars have truly grown into a far tighter band that they were in the past while still keeping their raw sound. The new songs have a diversity that was somewhat lacking in their previous work. While both bands were great it was unfortunate that the mainstream Thrice fans did not seem to know what to make of them, as could be predicted.

Thrice played a set that could have only been appreciated by the true fan. It was a set half filed with songs that they have never played on tour before in the states. There was a solid mix of new songs from their yet to be recorded (and barely even written) four disk record and then b-sides and album tracks. The set was had a few standards, but only one of their “singles” Red Sky. The set was as dynamic a set as Thrice could play, mixing a few acoustic-esq. songs with atmospheric songs and the heavier Thrice classic songs. The heavier songs they played were all their older songs that have not made it into their sets for some time. Two highlights, both coming from the Vheissu album, were Of Dust and Nations and The Earth Will Shake.

Thrice: Of Dust and Nations (live)
These Arms are Snakes: Angela’s Secret