The Thermals Shake Up Intimate Hometown Show at Musicfest NW

Portland's Musicfest NW kicked into high gear early Saturday morning when local trio the Thermals played an exclusive after-party at a remote dance studio across town. The band wasn't scheduled to play any shows at the fest and they currently aren't on tour, making the appearance even more special.

At 1:30AM, the group walked onto the tiny stage and fired through 20 of their finest songs in one hour. Fans were so close to lead singer Hutch Harris, they could see his veins popping out of his neck. The band's highly energetic tunes incited the crowd to let loose on old faves 'Here's Your Future,' "No Culture Icons' and the newer song 'We Were Sick.' "How's your fest? Is it dope?" Harris asked the crowd, who concurred with him. Halfway through their performance, the Thermals broke into a cover of Sonic Youth's punkish '100%,' a song they covered at Pitchfork Fest over the summer. As Harris railed on his guitar, Kathy Foster's curly locks bobbed in time with her bass. It was Foster's and Harris' jocular interplay that really made the set -- that and Harris occasionally channeling his inner rock star, falling to his knees and strummed his guitar.

But, the co-ed duo weren't the only ones having a blast. During the band's final song, 'Now We Can See,' sweaty drummer Westin Glass jogged around to the front of the stage, stood with Foster and Harris, sang a line with them, then went back to banging his drums. Whether they're playing a massive fest to thousands or a personal show to hundreds, the Thermals simply conquer all.