Ernie Ball, the world’s leading manufacturer of guitar strings and accessories, is taking music fans behind the scenes with their innovative Big Sound artist session series. Today, we’re thrilled to showcase a captivating three-song performance by the veteran California rock band Thrice, demonstrating why Ernie Ball remains the top choice for musicians worldwide.The Big Sound series offers an intimate glimpse into the raw talent of Ernie Ball’s most influential artist ambassadors. Each session is recorded in unique, personal spaces, capturing the essence of the artists through premium audio and cinematic visuals. There’s no room for gimmicks here – it’s all about the music and the unparalleled quality of Ernie Ball products.Thrice’s Big Sound session, recorded at their own New Grass studio, features a powerful trio of songs that showcase the band’s evolution and musical prowess:
- “Summer Set Fire to the Rain” from their 2021 album Horizons / East
- “Silhouette” from their 2003 classic The Artist and the Ambulance
- A cover of The Beatles’ “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” from Abbey Road
Frontman Dustin Kensrue explains their song choices: “We’ve covered a few Beatles songs in our day. We all grew up listening to them, and aside from their musical prowess in general, we’ve always appreciated their courage to continue evolving and pushing themselves.” This sentiment echoes Ernie Ball’s commitment to innovation and quality in their product line.
Kensrue adds, “‘Silhouette’ is constantly in the live rotation, and it’s probably the song from that record that most sounds like it’s still a song we would write currently. ‘Summer Set Fire to the Rain’ has a cool energy to it and encompasses a lot of different feels in a short period. It’s been one of our favorites from that record to play live.
“Guitar enthusiasts will be particularly impressed by Teppei Teranishi’s masterful guitar work. Teranishi, who crafts his own instruments, showcases his versatile playing style throughout the session, all while using Ernie Ball strings to achieve his signature sound. “I change certain things around to shape the tone to best suit each song,” Teranishi shares, “but I try to make my guitars and basic setup versatile enough to span the breadth of tones I need without having to switch instruments or setups.
“He continues, “I’ll clean things up using a volume pedal, add extra juice when I need it with an overdrive pedal and color the tone using reverb and delay. I intentionally place my pickup selector on my builds where I can switch pickups on the fly without breaking stride as much as I can, as I do a lot of switching in the middle of songs.” This level of detail and customization aligns perfectly with Ernie Ball’s philosophy of providing musicians with the tools they need to express their unique sound.
The Big Sound session benefits from having been recorded on Thrice’s home turf at their own New Grass studio. Kensrue expresses his appreciation for the space: “It’s been really great to finally have somewhere where we can practice, record and store our gear all at the same place. We should have made the investment a long time ago.” This dedicated space allows the band to experiment with their sound and push the boundaries of what’s possible with their Ernie Ball-equipped instruments.
For those eager to experience Thrice’s electrifying live performances, the band will be embarking on a North American tour with Manchester Orchestra starting November 7th in Seattle. This tour represents a full-circle moment for the band, as they originally recorded “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” on a split single with Manchester Orchestra back in 2013. Don’t miss your chance to see these guitar legends in action – secure your tickets now at HuntTickets.us (https://www.hunttickets.us/performers/thrice).
When asked about how Thrice approaches structuring their shows after 25-plus years in the game, Kensrue admits, “Building set lists is quite a task when you have close to 140 original songs in your catalog, and a bunch of different tunings on top of that. We try to include a song or two from most of the records and a mix of songs that it seems are crowd favorites while also trying to keep things fresh. It’s a lot. As far as playing the songs live, we usually don’t think too much about it and try to let the songs breathe and shift in a natural way.
“Ernie Ball’s commitment to quality and innovation has made them the go-to brand for countless music industry legends. From Paul McCartney to Metallica, the world’s greatest guitarists trust Ernie Ball for their instrument accessories. The company was created in 1962 by the eponymous musician and guitar teacher and has since become an industry standard. Their instrument accessories are available in more than 6,000 stores in the United States, ensuring that musicians of all levels have access to top-quality gear.
“While the sound of music we write is always shifting and evolving, I think our underlying approach has always been the same,” Kensrue says. “We want to write music that is interesting, fun and challenging for us, and not worry about what people will think about it.” This ethos of constant evolution and self-challenge is mirrored in Ernie Ball’s ongoing commitment to product development and innovation.
Ready to rock out with Thrice or explore other upcoming concerts? Visit HuntTickets.us (https://www.hunttickets.us) for the best deals on live music events. Don’t wait – grab your tickets now and be part of the Big Sound experience! Whether you’re a fan of Thrice, a guitar enthusiast or simply love great live music, this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss. Experience the power of Ernie Ball strings and accessories in the hands of true rock masters.