Thrice • Modern Color • Downward • November 15, 2025 • The Union
Reviewed and Photographed by Nate Bonney
Thrice’s stop at the Union Event Center in Salt Lake City on November 15th, 2025, felt less like a routine tour date and more like a triumphant renewal. They brought along with them 2 opening bands. Downward and Modern Color.
Downward
Downward delivered a commanding and atmospheric performance as the opening act for Thrice—one that immediately justified the quickly growing buzz around the band. Though taking the stage early in the evening, they wasted no time establishing a presence that felt anything but “opening band” energy. Instead, the room filled steadily as their first notes rang out, drawing in curious listeners who soon became fully captivated.
They opened with “Perfect Food,” a brooding and deliberate start that showcased their gift for tension and release. The mix sat beautifully in the venue: bass thick and warm, guitars sharp but never harsh, vocals cutting through with emotional precision. By the time they pivoted into “UGLY BUG,” the atmosphere had shifted from intrigued to electric. Its jagged rhythms and snarling hooks made it one of the standout moments of the set.
“Request Made” and “LINE” brought a more dynamic interplay of heaviness and vulnerability, demonstrating the band’s ability to balance aggression with melodic intuition. The crowd responded in kind—heads nodding, bodies loosening, a small pocket of fans at the barricade already shouting every lyric.
The highlight of the performance may have been “Your Way,” which landed with particular emotional weight, a slow-burn track that swelled into a cathartic conclusion. “The Waltz” followed with eerie grace, its spiraling guitar lines locking the room into its hypnotic rhythm.
Downward closed with the explosive “GLASSHOUSE,” a finale that left the audience buzzing and perfectly primed for Thrice. By the end of their set, it was clear they hadn’t merely opened the show—they had set a tone, raised a bar, and won over a room that arrived expecting one great band but left talking about two.
Perfect Food
UGLY BUG
Request Made
LINE
Your Way
The Waltz
GLASSHOUSE
Modern Color
As the second opener for Thrice a Modern Color delivered a set that felt less like a warm-up and more like a fully realized experience of its own. Following Downward’s strong opening, the crowd was already buzzing, but Modern Color elevated the atmosphere instantly—pulling people closer to the stage with a commanding yet understated presence.
They began with “Dread,” a brooding track that unfolded slowly, letting the room acclimate to their emotional weight and shimmering guitar tones. The flow into “Empty Rooms” felt seamless, a gorgeous swell of melody and tension that had the audience locked in. By “On & Off,” the band had found that perfect live sweet spot: tight, energetic, and effortlessly dynamic.
“Alone,” “Jacaranda,” and “Fortress” showcased the band’s ability to balance heaviness with vulnerability. Each song carried its own emotional imprint—defiant one moment, reflective the next—yet all felt unmistakably cohesive. The layered vocal harmonies in these mid-set tracks especially stood out, floating above churning bass lines and intricate drum patterns.
The dreamier tone of “Star 9200” offered a moment of serene introspection before the band pivoted into “Now, Life Is Living You,” one of the most affecting performances of the night. Its swelling crescendo earned cheers that felt more like gratitude than applause. The trio of “Opiate,” “Lavender,” and “Sage” kept the momentum building, each delivered with a confidence that showed just how seasoned Modern Color has become onstage.
They closed with “Pale,” a haunting, emotionally charged finale that left the crowd buzzing—primed for Thrice yet fully aware they had just witnessed something special. Modern Color didn’t just fill their slot; they owned it, cementing themselves as one of the night’s standout acts.
Dread
Empty Rooms
On & Off
Alone
Jacaranda
Fortress
Star 9200
Now, Life Is Living You
Opiate
Lavender
Sage
Pale
Thrice
Finally, with much anticipation, Thrice took the stage. With their new album Horizons / West freshly released and the accompanying tour still in its early stretch, anticipation buzzed through the sold-out room long before the band stepped onstage. When the lights dimmed and the opening rumble of “Blackout” surged through the venue, the crowd erupted—Thrice was back, refined, energized, and unmistakably themselves.
“Gnash” followed with a sharpened ferocity, showcasing just how seamlessly the new material slots into their already expansive catalog. The band’s chemistry was tight and confident, each member locked in as though the songs had lived in their set for years. But it was the explosive arrival of “The Artist in the Ambulance” that truly set the crowd off. Voices rose instantly; fans, young and old, shouted every word with the same fervor the track has inspired for over two decades.
The band moved fluidly between eras—“Hurricane,” “Holding On,” and “For Miles” pulsed with emotional weight, while “Paper Tigers” and “Still Life” revved up the pit with their signature urgency. The delivery of “The Window”and “The Dark Glow” illustrated how gracefully Thrice balances atmosphere with density, the guitars weaving around Dustin Kensrue’s gravel-warm vocals with effortless precision.
One of the night’s most unifying moments came during “Stare at the Sun,” when the audience nearly drowned out the band entirely. “Crooked Shadows,” “In Exile,” and “Of Dust and Nations” formed a powerful mid-set arc; each song met with thunderous cheers. “Black Honey” predictably brought the loudest sing-along of the night, its iconic chorus echoing off the walls.
As the set deepened, Thrice highlighted the full scope of their evolution. “Albatross” and “Beyond the Pines” unfolded like slow emotional burns, while “Robot Soft Exorcism” offered a glimpse into the innovative spirit driving their new album cycle. The band closed the main set with a crushing performance of “The Earth Will Shake,” the entire room stomping along to its seismic finale.
After a brief exit, the band returned to a roar for a two-song encore. The shimmering intensity of “Vesper Light” felt like a prayer, calm yet immense. And then, with no hesitation, Thrice detonated into “Deadbolt,” sending the venue into one final eruption of motion and catharsis. It was a perfect ending—nostalgic, wild, and deeply satisfying.
Thrice’s Salt Lake City performance wasn’t just a showcase of a band with decades of material; it was proof that they continue to evolve without losing the spirit that made them essential in the first place. Horizons / West marks a new chapter, and if this show is any indication, that horizon is looking brilliantly vast.
Blackout
Gnash
The Artist in the Ambulance
Hurricane
Holding On
For Miles
Paper Tigers
Still Life
The Window
The Dark Glow
Stare at the Sun
Crooked Shadows
In Exile
Of Dust and Nations
Black Honey
Albatross
Beyond the Pines
Robot Soft Exorcism
The Earth Will Shake
Encore:
Vesper Light
Deadbolt