The Thermals are the greatest. Here's an entire live show on video! They sound different than on the album. I guess because they don't have their guitar player anymore and Hutch has to sing and play at the same time. His voice seems lower and there are less quirky punk dynamics but the songs are still machine-gunned right into your heart.

I showed up at the Bottom of the Hill last Thursday ready to fuckin GO but the young Mates of State Slaves packed tightly in the crowd were unappreciative and lame beyond words. Kids, this is not a band that you stand, pocketfisted, nodding your head to. Exhibit A: here's a video of the song "No Culture Icons" show at Stumptown Coffee shop (I guess where Hutch works) in Portland.