The Beloved Seminal Post-Hardcore Emo Band Delivers an Incredible “20th Anniversary” Show to South Florida – Review and Photos of the Thursday Concert at the Revolution Live in Ft Lauderdale, FL

One of the best pieces of musical news any elder millennial emo kid got in the past few years was the second re-unification of Thursday, one of the biggest post-hardcore bands of the early 2000’s. So it was no surprise that when they announced they would be stopping by Ft. Lauderdale on their latest tour, a ton of people decided that Thursday on a Friday was the move. The band’s highly anticipated performance at Revolution Live marked a special occasion as Thursday celebrated the 20th anniversary of their seminal album, “War All The Time“. With support from Many Eyes and Rival Schools, the night promised to be a nostalgic journey through one of the most pivotal records in the post-hardcore genre, and it absolutely delivered.

Kicking off the evening with an explosive performance were Many Eyes, the new band of ex-Every Time I Die frontman Kieth Buckley. The band displayed tracks from their yet unnamed upcoming record, combining chugging heavy guitar riffs and killer drumming with Kieth’s unique vocal style. While a lot of the songs had a very ETID-type feel to them, Many Eyes also had some slower, more melodic tracks that allowed the audience to take a break from the frenetic energy drawn out by the performance. They finished up their time on stage with their most popular track, “Revelation“, and I’m very excited to see where Kieth’s next project takes him.

Following Many Eyes’ mesmerizing performance, Rival Schools took the stage with an infectious energy. The band had a much more chilled out vibe than the previous act, but still kept the crowd pumped up with their melodic punk rock anthems. Rival Schools is, coincidentally, another band that is currently on their second reunion, and this setlist was mainly comprised of songs from their critically acclaimed album “United by Fate“. With their tight musicianship and charismatic stage presence, Rival Schools evoked a sense of nostalgia while simultaneously igniting a fire of excitement for the main event.

Finally, the moment the crowd had been eagerly awaiting was here. The lights dimmed and smoke began to fill the room as Thursday stepped onto the stage, the atmosphere crackling with anticipation and reverence. Without hesitation, they launched into a breathtaking performance of their album “War All The Time” in its entirety, much to the delight of the fans. From the haunting opening chords of “For the Workforce, Drowning” to the anthemic two-part closer “Tomorrow I’ll Be You” and “Jet Black New Year” (complete with an amusing anecdote about outlasting the label that the album was on), every track was delivered with a raw intensity and emotional depth that showcased the album’s enduring impact.

Frontman Geoff Rickly’s impassioned vocals soared above the swirling guitars and thunderous rhythms, carrying the weight of the album’s poignant lyrics with conviction and sincerity. The band’s dynamic instrumentation ebbed and flowed with precision, seamlessly weaving together elements of post-hardcore, emo, and alternative rock to create an explosive sonic tapestry. Highlights of the set included standout tracks such as “Division St.“, “Signals Over The Air“, and the title track “War All The Time“, each performed with the same extraordinary level of energy as they were 20 years ago. Thursday finished off the night with an incredible three song encore of “Cross Out The Eyes“, “Understanding in a Car Crash” and “Turnpike Divides” as their fans cheered for more.

As the crowd funneled out of the building relishing in the awe inspiring experience they just witnessed, it was easy to see why the band had lasted for as long as they did. Thursday’s “War All The Time” 20th Anniversary Concert at Revolution Live was a sentimental celebration of music, memory, and emotion, with fans of all ages coming out to support their favorite band and either re-live their childhood or see them for the first time. It was also really cool to see the first tour of Many Eyes and the reunion of Rival Schools, and I’m stoked to see what both of these bands will do next!