From The Desk Of Thrice: Los Angeles Angels Baseball

A dozen years into its career, Thrice is still evolving. Following 2005’s experimental/atmospheric Vheissu and four-part concept album The Alchemy Index Vols. I & II (2007) and Vols. III & IV (2008), the California quartet—vocalist/guitarist Dustin Kensrue, guitarist/engineer Teppei Teranishi and Breckenridge brothers Eddie (bass) and Riley (drums)—has issued the edgier, hard-rock-leaning Beggars (Vagrant). On paper, such a description might make you believe the LP is a return to the post-hardcore days of Thrice’s first three albums, though Beggars is far more mature and varied than that. Unfortunately, the record was leaked in July, forcing the band to change the release date and marketing plan for Beggars, but Thrice seems to have come out of all this extracurricular drama unscathed. As the foursome prepares for its upcoming U.K. tour, they are also guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with them.

Riley Breckenridge: I was born and raised an Angels fan. Some of my earliest memories are of watching games on TV with my dad and heading out into the yard after games to play catch or Wiffle Ball. I remember seeing their first (and unfortunately brief) postseason appearance in ’79, the heartbreak vs. the Red Sox in ’86, the dark days from ’87 to ’96 (highlighted by the monumental collapse/choke down the stretch in ’95). My life is full of Angels memories, but most of them were rooted in failure. That all changed in 2002 when the Halos won the World Series. I was on tour at the time and watched the final out in a Salt Lake City sports bar, alone, but dad was at the game and was only a phone call away. After 25-plus years of rooting for a team together and little to show for it, we were able to share a moment together that few baseball fans ever get to experience in a lifetime. (Unless you’re a Yankees fan.) The whole thing seemed so surreal and so improbable that it was hard to believe it was really happening. But it was, and it’s my fondest sports memory. Since 2002, the Angels have transformed into a model franchise, winning the American League West five out of the past six seasons, built around a core of homegrown players, while maintaining a respectable payroll under the guidance of owner, Arte Moreno. Although their on-field exploits usually sneak under the national media’s radar, ESPN rated the franchise as the number-one fan experience in Major League Baseball. I can’t disagree with that, although I’m admittedly biased. The stadium is a great place to see a game, the weather is perfect all season long, the tickets and concessions are moderately priced, and the product on the field is a perennial contender. I’m proud to be an Angels diehard. They’ve been a staple in my life, a pillar in my relationship with my dad and a joy to watch (most of the time). A fan couldn’t really ask for much more. Video after the jump.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMVAX0Q_CbY