Thursday
House of Blues, Chigao, IL
Wednesday… November 6, 2002

HOB, Chicago felt quiet out front and in the lobby upon entering. Upon asking the bouncer guarding the entrance to the elevators and balcony, I was hit with "Its sold out" with a tone like I was the ASS among the two of us. And yeah, I know watching the show from the balcony is pussy, but I really wanted to take the Chicago crowd in as I have seen Thursday in NYC and in LA, but not here.

I caught the last song from One Line Drawing. I loved Far's Water and Solutions, but I am not down with all this Dashboard shit. I even picked up that Kevin Seconds and the dude from Alkaline Trios split EP, it is alright. Jonah
seemed to get a fair to good response.

Then Thursday hit it. The stage was a little high and separate from the crowd, I sensed they wished it was tighter, but such is the test of any band to conquer the barriers and reach people.

It was indeed sold-out and the floor was so packed that kids couldn’t dance. They could barely sway and roll with the mass of people they were trying to break free from and find some space to get down. One after the next, Thursday belted out the tracks we know so well from Full Collapse. The audience, contributing vocals everywhere they could.

Thursday is truly a special band. I am reminded of seeing YOT or GB in the late mid eighties at one of those CB's shows between bannings. Kids go to church when they see this band. I have my doubts about kids today and what
they're into, and Thursday shows let me know that some kids are into some real shit and serious about it.

Jet Black New Year, the new track on Thursday's new, mostly live, CD EP, is a highlight in the set.