While Seattle Thermals shows in the past few years have been an ever intensifying, sometimes dangerous, almost orgy-like melding of bodies dancing and screaming along in a completely packed and joyful room, Seattle once again proved its often icy disposition and the half empty crowd stood quietly tapping their feet and nodding along, occasionally mouthing along the lyrics with little emotion. Was it too cold outside to dance? Were people tired since it was Sunday? I guess it made me feel a bit nostalgic, as years ago, my friends and I used to be the only ones up front dancing our asses off at Thermals shows. The one clear benefit of this, was the ability to stand up front without fear of being crushed to death or accidentally punched in the eye. Still, I missed the chaos, and it looked like the band did as well.

Despite the lackluster crowd, the Thermals worked their butts off through an hour long set that included an even span of their four albums, and even featured four new songs from the aforementioned new Chris Walla produced album (the last of which I believe was called “I Don’t Believe You” might be a new favorite, with it’s sugary boy/girl vocal repetition, sounding almost like a pumped up Hutch and Kathy song). And while the old songs are always my favorite (I will never lose the flutter in my heart that happens every time they hit the opening chords of “No Culture Icons” that makes me start jumping up and down immediately and wildly), hearing The Thermals progress over time makes me proud to call them one of my favorite bands. And dear Thermals, please excuse Seattle’s off kilter behavior. I swear it won’t happen again.

{photos by bobby mchugh}