REVIEW: The Thing @ Brighton Music Hall 3/5
Photo Credit: Yi-Hsuan Li
Review by Simone DiNota
It was a cold and rainy Thursday evening, but The Thing brought the heat to Brighton Music Hall for the North American tour of their self-titled third album, “The Thing.” Playing their entire set with almost no breaks, the band left everything on stage, delivering a performance that felt as personal as it did passionate.
The New York City-based rock group formed in 2022 and has since released two cleverly titled albums, “Here’s the Thing” and “The Thing Is,” and played 300 shows around the world. The band is composed of lead vocalist and bassist Zane Acord, guitarist and vocalist Jack Bradley, guitarist and vocalist Michael Carter, and drummer Lucas Ebeling. The band members produced their third album on their own record and recorded it live to tape, showcasing the artistry that was on full display during this performance.
The show started with two rock and indie rock openers, Spirit Ghost and Jonny Tex. The members of Spirit Ghost sported blazers, which were fitting because they were all business. Both Spirit Ghost and Jonny Tex packed as much as they could into their 30-minute sets, and, despite the rather sparse crowd, they started the show off with a powerful punch.
The Thing took the stage under pink fluorescent lights. Oddly, the headlining four-piece began with an unfamiliar instrumental song. By the end of the show, this piece felt more intentional: it was a warmup before a physically demanding set and a look into the band’s unfiltered musical process.
After thanking their openers and addressing the audience with a classic “Boston, how are we doing?” the band jumped into some hits from their most recent album, “Dave’s TV” and “Above Snakes.” Each musician had a distinct set of mannerisms on stage, and yet, they all seemed to move in sync while playing their respective instruments. It was clear that the band members weren’t just aligned as artists, but as people.
“You’re The One” began with a reflective vocal section, allowing Acord to show off his impressive falsetto. During that song, “Family Business,” and “Neptunne,” Acord also noticeably played his bass while raising it near his shoulders. It felt like a subtle flex of undeniable musical talent.
The band introduced a slow section in the set, where Carter took over on vocals for “Holy Water” and “The Waltz.” Despite having a sultry tempo, the songs still thrummed with the same intensity as the band’s upbeat rock tunes, which felt both authentic to the band yet deeply vulnerable.
“Beige Bouquet” offered a stark juxtaposition to the slow section with a minute-long drum solo. The audience went wild as Ebeling played with an unmatched intensity. His fellow band members ducked so he could own the stage.
Throughout the set, each song bled into another, often with no transitional pauses. During an instrumental break in “Ana De Armas,” it was as if the audience wasn’t even there. Acord and Bradley joined together at center stage, and you could almost imagine the band jamming in a rehearsal studio, just appreciating the joy of playing together.
The band ended their set with a cover of “My Generation” by The Who. It was a total crowd pleaser. Audience members sang along as the band members took turns with each verse. At the last chorus, all of the musicians sang into one mic in unison.
The band kept with the show’s theme of timeliness, and the audience only had to wait a few minutes for the encore. Though a chunk of the crowd had dispersed, likely to beat the traffic in the poor weather, those who stayed didn’t stop cheering until the musicians were back on stage. Acord thanked the remaining audience members, and the band played one of their funkier hits, “America,” which was a strong end to a strong set.
The thing is that The Thing is going places. With some absolute bangers and a genuine commitment to the craft, their music can warm up even the coldest night.