Hailing from New Brunswick, New Jersey, Thursday emerged in 1999 and would unknowingly become one of the core bands of the third wave of the emo music genre. Debuting with their album Waiting, singer Geoff Rickly, guitarists Tom Keeley and Bill Henderson, bassist Tim Payne and drummer Tucker Rule played shows in various basements throughout New Jersey and New York. Creating a community with adjacent bands such as Saves the Day and Midtown, Thursday set course to build up a fanbase and a repertoire of jabbing, twinkly, and melancholic tracks that would later make up their sophomore album, Full Collapse. This release stands as a significant turning point in the timeline of the emo music genre during the early 2000s, as the third wave transitioned from the second, and the ever-evolving nature of the genre became evident. While many bands labeled as emo demonstrated a fusion of pop-punk tinged guitar riffs and pop chorus structures, Thursday remained gritty and still strongly tied to the deep emotional aspect that is the very backbone of emo (emotional, emo, you get it). Understanding In a Car Crash became an anthem that still echoes through the development of emo music and is widely recognized for its lyricism, dramaticism, and combination of gentle and sparkly guitar with a gut-wrenching atmosphere.

Nearly twenty-five years later, Thursday returned full force to its loyal fanbase with a North American tour celebrating the anniversary of three albums. Full Collapse turning twenty-five, A City by the Light Divided turning twenty, and No Devolución (the band’s most experimental album, as described by Rickly) turning fifteen. Appropriately titled Full City Devolución, the band presents a three-part set which starts with a medley from No Devolución, following through to A City by the Light Divided and ending with the beloved and cherished Full Collapse. The lineup for this tour includes core members Rickly, Rule, and Steve Pedulla, who are accompanied by Stu Richardson on bass and Wade MacNeil of Alexisonfire on guitar. I was lucky enough to be able to attend this tour on their stop to The Crocodile on April fourteenth, in which I showed up so early that I was able to snag a spot right at the front. Fellow New Jersey colleague Chris Conley of Saves the Day has been a special guest on this tour, performing acoustic versions of Saves the Day songs, highlighting his unique skills in lyricism and yearnful voice. The setlist varies, as Saves the Day has amassed a dedicated following over the years who often request demos or lesser-known tracks. This night, we were rewarded with fan favorites like Cars & Calories and Holly Hox, Forget Me Nots, and a couple off of their compilation album Ups & Downs, like Jessie & My Whetstone and Sell My Old Clothes, I’m Off to Heaven. During the set it was not only Conley singing, but the audience softly singing every word right back, resulting in an angelic chorus that hovered behind me. It almost felt as if it were planned that way, the audience having practiced singing backup to Conley in order to hold his voice center like a frame to a photo.

Thursday brings an experience to their performance that is not easily described through written word and is truly something that is felt by witnessing the bands’ passion and emotion that drives through all the years that make up Thursday. The setlist started off with Empty Glass off of No Devolución, in which Rickly’s voice eerily echoed from the back of the venue with a small light above him, which soon became accompanied by flashlights shining within the audience. As Rickly sings through songs like Turnpike Divides (one of my personal favorites), he outstretches his arms above the audience, towering over them as though he were a religious figure, and us the audience searching for relief and solace. He would often crouch down next to the crowd, encouraging expel of emotion through singing and screaming the lyrics. Congruently, Rule drums sharply, upkeeping intensity and enticing crowd members to jump, move, and feel. Pedulla, MacNeil, and Richardson complement each other beautifully within their expulse of chords. that the fans are searching for. Counting 5-4-3-2-1 kicks off the second part of the set, in which the band quickly transitions into A City by the Light Divided, and the audience adheres quickly by roaring in tandem with Rickly, “5-4-3-2-1 What are you waiting for? ‘Cause it’s 10-9-8-7 everybody coming to burn this city, burn this city down tonight.”

The third section of the set celebrating the treasured Full Collapse, was broken up with a ten-minute intermission, leaving audience members buzzing with excitement and eager to hear the songs that have made up their lives’ soundtrack for 25 years. Rickly appeared onstage with an outfit change, donning an all-white outfit in opposition to his previous all-black ensemble. During the two previous sets, MacNeil rocked a leather jacket that included metal studs on the back that spelled out “War All the Time”, in reference to their 2003 record, which I also love. Rickly humorously recalled how New Jersey bands do anything they can to leave the state and end up writing fifty percent of their songs about doing so. The band catapulted headfirst into Autobiography of a Nation, the familiar jangly guitar tune and crunchy bassline acting as a signal spreading throughout the venue, bringing in a profound surge of audience members.

Write these words back down, inside,

We have burned their villages, we have burned their villages

People in them died

We adopt their customs

And everything they say, we steal

A cacophony of these lyrics rang throughout, bringing out the rawest of emotion from every participant. I have to say, Full Collapse was my favorite portion of the night. Everyone in the room had a memory attached to these songs, memories so deep they feel like they are a physical part of the body; like a bruise, scar, or stitch. Throughout the twenty-five years of this album, people have found consolation and succor, in which the performance of these songs further acts as a topical relief to life’s struggles. I was heart warmed by how deeply every person felt about these songs and took note of how generations of the audience varied and was grateful that these songs have passed on and have been given new meaning to younger generations like me. It felt like no explanation was needed and everyone understood each other perfectly without speaking directly to one another. Standing on the Edge of Summer was such a treat to hear live, one of my favorite songs of theirs. Last but of course not least, Understanding in a Car Crash finished off the night, spawning a cathartic chaos of screaming, pushing, sweating, and a spattering of tears.

I truly would not change a single part about this night and would love to also thank the kind people I met who gave me buttons, patches, and stickers. This community has always been so kind regardless of where I am, and whether that be in person or online. Thank you Thursday, and thank you to the people who understand this music the same way as I do.

Show Review: Thursday’s Full City Devolución at The Crocodile

Volume 3: FRONTL!NE