Thrice is three times the band you'd expect

The original plan didn’t involve record deals, industry turbulence or world domination. The original plan was simply to rock.

Like so many bands, Thrice, which plays the Black Sheep on Thursday, began as four high school dudes in a garage.

“When we first started in, we didn’t even look past it being a garage band,” said guitarist Teppei Teranishi. “Every little step forward has come as a total surprise to us.”

And yet it’s been a steady march. Eleven years have passed since their early garage days, the boys have grown into men, and they are still creating music together.

Thrice was introduced to the world in the early 2000s with a string of three albums that established their sound to modern rock listeners, even though they never had a huge single.

As it turned out, the band wasn’t content to keep making the same record over and over again. The subtle changes between their early albums turned into a dramatic shift on “Vheissu” (2005), as they introduced electronic beats and changed up the sound.

But that was just an appetizer for “The Alchemy Index” (2007 and 2008). The band dreamed up a concept album of four EPs that explored their varied influences, as each album had a distinct sound and explored the thematic territory of earth, wind, fire and water. Suddenly, the garage rockers were experimental musicians steeped in technology and existential questioning.

“We delivered the record to the label and they were like ‘Uh, we don’t know what to do with this,’” Teranishi said. “We’ve done what came naturally and, really, whatever we wanted.”

The band stuck to its vision and parted ways with the label. Fans responded by embracing the unusual release.

Now, Thrice has rebelled against itself. After “Alchemy,” they just wanted to get back in a room, pound on their guitars, and rock. The result was this summer’s release, “Beggars.” It is a return to the band’s roots, but bears the markings of their musical journeys since that time.

Teranishi said the songs were written with such a live, organic feel that they’ve been fun to play on the road.

“After ‘Alchemy,’ we were eager to get back in our practice place and jam,” Teranishi said. “We focused a lot on having it sound real, just four dudes playing music together. Not being perfectionists, not holding back and being worried about bending strings out of tune.”

Fans can judge the songs for themselves when Thrice plays The Black Sheep, and get thrice the pleasure with opening turns by The Dear Hunter and Polar Bear Club. Taken together, it should be some of the best that the melodic hardcore genre has to offer.

Thrice, with
The Dear Hunter and Polar Bear Club

When: 7 p.m. doors, Thursday

Where: The Black Sheep, 2106 Platte Ave.

Tickets: $20;
 all ages;
 ticketweb.com