Review: Thursday 11.2.2007

#33
Friday November 2 2007
Thursday
Portugal the Man
(Circle Takes the Square)
Ottobar

So when I saw this show advertised, I had to check and see if it was Thursday Thursday and not some new band called Thursday. I haven't seen them since 2003, which in show-going terms is more than 300 bands ago. I never wrote anything about them on the blog before, but they were the band that brought me to Coheed (via Christian internet radio) (no, seriously) and the first band I ever took off of work to drive/fly more than 1,000 miles for (some horrible polka hall in eastern PA/Vegas). Thursday was probably the first new band I listened to after graduating from college and moving to DC without knowing anyone, so they were there for me (musically speaking) through some very tough years. Full Collapse is still one of my desert-island albums. Anyway, whether I was paying attention or not, Thursday has been around for about 10 years now and is currently touring to promote their new DVD Kill the House Lights. Actually it doesn't look like I missed too much because their most recent two albums were from 2006 and 2003. Anyway, it was really a fantastic show - more than an hour long set and Geoff looks way more healthy than back in 2003 when I saw them last. They played all the 'hits' and only a few songs that I hadn't heard before (several of which were brand-new and some were from the 2006 album). It was also great to see them in such a small venue since the smallest venue I'd seen them in before was a sold-out 9:30 Club.
Portugal the Man I had not seen before but would definitely check out again. They're from Alaska and, live at least, sound a lot like Verbal way back when Carter was still on guitar. Their myspace stuff is very indie, so I might recommend that to some people as well.
Unfortunately since I had to work until 8:15 and took the Parkway to Balmr, I missed Circle Takes the Square, though I have been enjoying their album. They were recommended to me by various fans of HORSE the band, and while CTS is less metal, there is a lot of screaming.