The Thermals Melt My Face Off

Download: The Thermals - "St. Rosa And The Swallows" (via Indietastic)
Download: The Thermals - "No Culture Icons"
Download: The Thermals - "A Pillar Of Salt"
Download: Superhopper - "New Fresh Midwest"
Download: Reporter - "Green Death"

The illustrious, magnificent Portland-based rockers The Thermals were back in town again last night. And, once again, they melted my face off.

Superhopper opened up the show. I was pretty prepared to hate them, since they stalled their set, waiting for more people to show up, which I think is vain and silly, especially on a Monday night. But then they came out and were sweet and bubbly. And they played so well. The St Paul based pop-rockers pulled out all the stops in a half-hour non-stop blitz of rock passion. Very fun stuff.

I actually feel kind of bad for Reporter having to follow them. It was the groups 6th show ever and they were still obviously getting used to being in front of a crowd. They sounded fine, but kind of fell into the generic alt bin. There's a definite Modest Mouse influence to them on record, but that impact is greatly minimized live. They sounded good for only having 5 shows under their belt. I never would have noticed if they hadn't said anything. They were entertaining, but nothing to write home about.

And the Thermals. I've seen them three times, and this one was kind of middling. But still, middling for the Thermals is pretty awesome. They blitzed on through most of the new album, plus a smattering of crowd favorites from Fuckin' A and More Parts Per Million. And, they busted out the Built to Spill and the Wipers covers. It was a really strong setlist, I think, and captured a lot of aspects of their songwriting. Not to mention, Kathy did a killer Craig Finn impression that had everyone, especially Hutch, in gigglefits.

But the presentation of the songs was the show's weakest point. The Thermals have great rock songs, but to just push through them really downplayed their strength in melody and subtlety. It was still a phenomenal rock show and my face is going to take days to solidify, so I can't complain too hard.

MySpace Page

(April Wright)

Tonight: The Thermals at the Triple Rock

Download: The Thermals - "No Culture Icons"
Download: The Thermals - "A Pillar Of Salt"

The show that we wrote about back in August has finally come to fruition! The Thermals are playing an all-ages show tonight at the Triple Rock. Show starts at five and tickets are twelve dollars. Get said tickets at the box office or here. Reporter and St. Paul-based Superhopper open.

Reporter MySpace Page
Superhopper MySpace Page
The Thermals MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

The Thermals Return To Minneapolis

Download: The Thermals - "Here's Your Future"
Download: The Thermals - "No Cultural Icons"

In today's "Fuck Yes!" News: Bright Eyes may have forsaken MPLS on his next tour, but The Thermals haven't! And, I mean it when I say that you must go see the Thermals. After all, this isn't today's "Fuck Yes!" news because I'm feigning enthusiasm. The Thermals are one of the most explosively energetic, fun bands I've seen live, and I really do insist that you all go. And on top of it, when I saw them open for Cursive, Craig Finn was out in the crowd, screaming and pumping his beer-and-phone-filled fists in the air. He was sending a text message in between fist pumps. I have always kind of wondered what it said.

8.25 George, WA - The Gorge Amphitheater (Download Festival)
9.08 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom (Musicfest NW)
10.16 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
10.18 Calgary, Alberta - Broken City
10.19 Edmonton, Alberta - Velvet Underground
10.20 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Amigo's
10.21 Winnipeg, Manitoba - Royal Albert
10.22 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club
10.24 Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium
10.25 Pontiac, MI - The Eagle Theater
10.26 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
10.27 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern
10.28 Montreal, Quebec - Club Lambi
10.30 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs
11.02 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
11.03 Washington, DC - Black Cat

Did I mention that you really should go to this show?


("A Pillar Of Salt")

(April Wright)

Do The Evolution

So, the above video caught my attention recently. I know Jon usually runs the political racket ‘round these parts, but I’ve got something to get off my chest. I'm going to use it not only as a chance to hop up on my soapbox, but as an MP3 dump.

As some of you probably know, or have surmised to some degree from my other posts, I'm a biologist. Specifically, an evolutionary biologist. From watching that video, you might not see why I'm bringing it up, but my reasons will be absolutely crystalline in a few moments.

The above video shows a crowd of people who aren't just using religion as a rhetorical weapon: They want to bring God down here to fight on their side. Physically. They want a bloodbath.

As I'm sure anyone with brains in their heads (rather than the rocks these people so clearly possess) realizes that the book of Revelation has no bearing on any actual end times, as it wasn't a prophecy. But, to them, it does. And that should scare you. These people control our country. Why plan for the future, why care for the environment, why bother with social security reform if our world won't be here in 50 years? That's how these people think.

That bloodbath I mentioned? It's a looming threat in our own country. Last week, evolutionary biologists in Colorado received threatening messages, followed by threats e-mailed to evil-utionists across the country.

Why us? Some propaganda I got from AnswersInGenesis.org clears that question up: They think evolution is the seed of evil in the world. A while back, a friend of mine said he didn't think fundies would get violent with evolutionary biologists like they do with abortion doctors. Evolution has no religious affiliation and contradicts a literal reading of the Bible (a literal reading never intended by its authors), therefore it is the seed of evil in their view. As an evolutionary biologist, they see me as the reason that there's abortion, murder, gay sex, theft and porn.

They see fighting the enemies of their narrow Biblical interpretation as integral to their plot to bring the Rapture. After all, fighting the enemies of their bastardized warrior god (such an idea doesn't even deserve a capital "g") will get them rewards in heaven. Or so they think. And, as should be clear from the video and the death threats, they'll get ugly in order to get it. They've already started on the homosexuals and the abortion doctors. They've just been warming up, assuming they have the guts to follow through with any of it, which is, admittedly, doubtful.

But society can stop them. I implore you: Don't give these nutcases the time of day. When someone starts in on you about the end times, or fighting "evil" with violence, tell them, in the words of P.Z. Myers, that they are demented fuckwits. Shut them down before they even start. Don't hide your contempt for them. Every time they encounter someone who, in the name of being PC or polite, doesn't tell them where they can shove their ideas, they get bolder. They get stronger.

In the mean time, here are some auditory libations for these troubled times:

Download: The Thermals - "A Pillar Of Salt"
Download: Super Furry Animals - "It's Not the End of the World"
Download: R.E.M - "Sweetness Follows"
Download: Explosions In The Sky - "Greet Death"
Download: Bonnie "Prince" Billy - "Death To Everyone"
Download: Blur- "Death Of A Party"
Download: David Byrne- "Tiny Apocalypse"
Download: Modest Mouse - "Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes"
Download: U2 - "Until The End Of The World"



(Dethklok, "Go Forth And Die")

(April Wright)

The Thermals @ the Triple Rock Last Night

2/27/07: The Thermals at the Triple Rock Social Club

Fire and heat jokes, ahoy! The Thermals blazed through a blistering set Tuesday, Feb. 27 at the Triple Rock Social Club.

The show opened up with Middlepicker. The name is about right – they were pretty average. The highlight of the set was when that guy showed up. Anyone who has ever been to a concert knows that guy. The guy looks like he could be 16, maybe a little older, and because he's so moved by the music, feels compelled to run up right in front of the stage and dance. The fact that the band wasn't playing dance music and that he does not, in fact, know how to dance does not deter this guy.

So he shuffles about, sure with his feet, but unsure with his arms. So, he ends up pointing to each band member as if to say "You are my sunshine. My rising star. Thank you." Part of me wanted to go dance with him, to show him he's not alone in this world.

But a bigger part of me wanted to go Jeff Tweedy on his face. And no, I don't mean tenderly sing a moving rendition of "Ashes of American Flags" while gazing into his eyes. I mean I wanted to flip out and punch him.

Well, it's a good thing I didn't, because I would have been kicked out. I would have missed the awesome second opener The Big Sleep. I don't normally like openers, but they were epic. From the skill of all three band members (In particular bass player Sonya Balchandani had superb technique. Just being able to watch her hands was worth it.) to the Earth-shattering force of their sound, I was impressed with all facets of their show. I'm a huge fan of both Sonic Youth and Spoon, and this band hit that sweet spot right in the middle of rhythm and noise.

And the Thermals just fucking rocked. It's so hard to say anything else about them. Everything about their performance was right on and I just don't know where to start.

I guess I'll start with their presence. I saw the Thermals the last time they were here, and they really have grown as a stage band since then. In particular, front man Hutch Harris has developed a much more identifiable stage presence. Especially with the delegation of some guitar duties to Joel Burrows, a tour guitarist who looks suspiciously like John Darnielle, Harris has really been able to come into his own. He dances around like the bastard child of a televangelist and Burt Bacharach. It's hotter than it sounds; trust me.

Naturally, the band drew heavily on material from their newest record, The Body, The Blood, The Machine. Since they played my favorite songs from their older records, I really can't complain. There's no shame in playing to your strengths, and the new record really puts solid rock songwriting at the forefront.

The band just pushed it throughout the entire show. Their records are so ridiculously high energy that it's hard to believe they could be topped. I have no idea how they do it, but The Thermals mounted an all-out auditory assault that makes their studio albums seem tame.

MySpace Page

(April Wright)