For those who thought Threads of Scarlet sounded too good on their debut CD Katharsis to be true, well news flash.
They are even better live!
Gone was the studio polish; the overdubs; the layering of the CD. But that took nothing away from them on Saturday night. For the Threads have an energy, a rawness and a heaviness, and unleashed it on those who journeyed to the Olympus Theatres to hear them perform in support of the CD that has been getting rave reviews from their local fans.
Backed by a light show, with video of the band and graphics shot onto the screen behind it as they played, the members went through their repertoire in an hour-and-a-half display that left patrons wanting more.
The Threads took to the stage just after the 11:30 p.m. start for the second of two shows on the night, and immediately launched into Eyes For You – the opening tune on Katharsis.
With alternative band Kite helping out in the background with guitar changes, they then segued into the reggae-influenced Hot Box, proving that there was more to them than driving riffs.
But it was the opening chords of what could be considered the Threads’ signature tune that brought the crowd to the stage’s edge.
With hands raised, the fans provided backing vocals as frontmen Nicholas Ward and Jesse Foster took them through Issues, Ruby Red Roses and another signature tune Baby Blue, and Falling Far From which is reminiscent of Metallica’s Outlaw Torn for its musical progression.
The band then took it down a notch with an acoustic jam after Ward explained the band started out as an acoustic outfit.
And just when you thought it could not get any better, bassist Mark Glinka and drummer Stu Damm stepped into the spotlight for a rhythm session that brought howls from the crowd and which ended with Glinka down on the stage in a picture of heavy metal concentration.
From there, it was into the driving Breathe, one of the better songs off the album.
At around 1:15 p.m. the highly appreciative crowd hauled them back out for one more, with cries of “encore, encore” and the Threads obliged with The Way Out.
