Some say the third time is the charm.
It's true for Orange County, Calif., rock band Thrice.
The band's third album, The Artist in the Ambulance, debuted on the Billboard top 200 and after years of playing opening band to more well known acts, the members have embarked on their first headlining tour across America.
The band's live show has press and fans claiming they are one of the best live acts out there.
"The live show for us is what we look forward to the most," drummer Riley Breckenridge said after a recent show in Austin. "We don't rely on any gimmicks when we get out on stage, instead we go out and play as many songs as we can in the time we are given. I think fans can expect a really honest and energetic performance."
The four-piece is rounded out by Dustin Kensrue on lead vocals and guitar, Teppei Teranishi on guitar and vocals and Eddie Breckenridge on bass and vocals.
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Upon first listen, The Artist in the Ambulance sounds strikingly similar to much of the nu-metal that is being played on the radio these days by bands like Trapt, but after a few times through it is apparent that Thrice is simultaneously harder and more melodic than what is being played on the radio. It seems to be a perfect mix of the straight slow punk of Hot Water Music and the elusive harmonies of The Deftones.
"We describe our music as rock music," Breckenridge said. "We draw from so many different influences, including classic rock, hardcore, metal, punk, jazz or anything else that they all take a role in our writing process."
Not only are Thrice hard rocking and working members, they are also extremely nice guys. Besides giving the kids what they really want in a live show, pure rock emotion, they are also charitable. They have raised over $50,000 for the Syrentha J. Savio Endowment cancer charity by giving a portion of every CD they sell and by performing at various benefit concerts.
When asked about being the nice guys in rock, Breckenridge modestly responded: "I guess if that really is our image, it's cool. I don't know if that is how we are perceived, but it's definitely not something we set out to do." He later added, "We didn't decide to work with charities to make us look like nice. We do it from our hearts. Being in a touring band, we are in the position to spread the word and also share and give back to people who are less fortunate than us. It means a lot to us."
Although their charitable contributions are pale in comparison to that of, say, Bono of U2, they are just getting started. Like Bono and U2's music, The Artist in the Ambulance is littered throughout with philosophy and religious undertones.
"The air my lungs first loved/ carves craters from my eyes/ they said 'breathe deeply son/and watch the traitors die/ Beneath the falling night/ and heaven's shutting gate/ pray keep your tongue held tight/ or suffer the same fate'" sings Kensrue on "Under a Killing Moon." It is just a small sample of the band's beliefs.
"As a band there is definitely not one consensus on what we believe," Breckenridge said. "We were, though, all raised as Christians, and I think each one of us is at a different point in our faiths."
With four nice guys doing great charitable work and rocking their pants off, hopefully the waves Thrice has made in the music world will continue to roll.
