THURSDAY LIVE!! | RITZ
Coverage by Chris Sturk
Thursday – Live at The Ritz, Raleigh, NC
Supporting Silverstein’s 25-Year Anniversary Tour
Thursday’s stop at The Ritz in Raleigh felt less like an opening set and more like a long‑overdue reunion between a band and the fans who have carried their music for decades. For me, it was a moment years in the making. Thursday has been on my must‑see list for as long as I’ve been photographing and covering live music, and their performance last night proved exactly why they’ve remained such a defining force in post‑hardcore.
From the moment they stepped onstage, the energy was electric. The band played with the urgency and heart of musicians who still believe in every word they sing. Geoff Rickly was fully locked in—leaning into the crowd, reaching out, shouting lyrics with the kind of raw conviction that reminds you why Thursday’s music hits so deeply. His connection with the fans was immediate and constant, turning the room into a shared emotional space rather than just a venue.
The rest of the band matched that intensity beat for beat. Guitars cut through the room with that unmistakable Thursday tension—melodic, chaotic, and cathartic all at once—while the rhythm section kept everything driving forward. Even in a support slot, they played like headliners, delivering a set that felt both nostalgic and fiercely alive. For a band I’ve waited years to finally experience in person, Thursday didn’t just meet expectations—they blew past them. Their performance at The Ritz was a reminder of how powerful live music can be when a band pours everything they have into the stage and the crowd gives it right back.
If this tour is passing anywhere near you, don’t miss it. Thursday is still a force, still a voice, and still one of the most compelling live bands of their era.
