Thousand Below Turns Intimacy to Insanity at The Shelter
On Sunday evening in Downtown Detroit, as the festivities of the Sundays Are For the Lions Market came to a close at 6 PM, just a few blocks away, the night was only beginning. The Shelter at Saint Andrew’s Hall opened its doors to fans eager to experience the Buried in Jade Tour, headlined by Thousand Below with support from Aviana, True North, and Dreamwake. By the time the first note rang out, it was clear this lineup was designed for a night of emotion, intensity, and catharsis.
DREAMWAKE
Opening the night was Dreamwake, who immediately introduced a little flair to the room. Known for weaving saxophone into their music, the absence of their touring saxophonist meant the melodies were pumped through the mix, which had no hindrance on their live production. This, along with the shimmering blend of synths and soaring vocal hooks, Dreamwake created a soundscape that evoked Dayseeker’s Dark Sun era enveloping Erra’s Augment riffage. Tracks like “Stargazer” and “Oasis” filled the room with anthemic energy, while “Memories” had the crowd swaying along. Even without a live sax, Dreamwake proved they could bring their unique flavor to the stage and start the night off strong.
TRUE NORTH
Carrying that atmosphere forward, True North injected the night with a heavier pop-punk influence. Their set leaned into big hooks without losing momentum, songs like “Save Your Breath” and “Solid Ground” keeping the audience moving while showcasing the band’s melodic side. The emotional push of “I Dragged Us In” and the soaring chorus of “Save Me” connected instantly with the crowd, making their set feel both personal and communal. It was a natural progression from Dreamwake’s moody melodies into a higher-energy lane, ensuring the night’s trajectory kept climbing.
AVIANA
If the first two acts built the fire, Aviana set it ablaze. With their masked mystique and ferocious energy, the Swedish metalcore outfit commanded the room. Joel Holmqvist’s live vocals were flawless, switching between guttural lows and soaring highs with ease, while the masked guitarists moved with precision and flair, including several spins that matched the production’s theatrical edge.
“DELIRIUM” and “Rage” ripped through the speakers with violent intensity, but it was “My Worst Enemy” that delivered one of the night’s highlights. During the buildup, Joel had the entire crowd crouch down, holding them in suspense before detonating into chaos with the callout, “But my eyes, they still can see my worst enemy!” The floor erupted as one, cementing their set as a defining moment of the night, and surely having the audience appreciate their long travel to be here.
THOUSAND BELOW
At last, it was time for Thousand Below to close the evening. With a beautiful light show, especially impressive considering the intimate size of The Shelter, the San Diego post-hardcore unit turned the underground stage into a kaleidoscope of atmosphere and emotion.
Opening with “Kerosene” and “Palace of Dread,” the first two tracks from their new record Buried In Jade, the band wasted no time showcasing the fresh energy behind this tour. The set leaned heavily into material from both Buried In Jade and Hell Finds You Everywhere, with “Silent Season” and “Hell Finds You Everywhere” standing out as massive singalong moments. Sprinkled throughout the set, Thousand Below treated fans to a pair of older cuts, “No Place Like You” and “Sinking Me,” before launching into a fan-favorite closer.
When the opening notes of “Sabotage” rang out, the crowd erupted, screaming every word and leaving nothing behind. From start to finish, the night was a journey that moved from dreamy melodies to raw aggression, all culminating in Thousand Below’s cathartic finale. Coming off the heels of the Buried in Jade release, this tour felt like both a celebration and a reintroduction, proof that Thousand Below are not only evolving but thriving. Detroit showed up, and the Buried in Jade Tour more than delivered.
Catch Thousand Below on the Buried In Jade Tour across North America. Visit https://www.thousandbelow.com/ for current and upcoming tour dates, and follow @thousandbelow on Instagram for updates and behind-the-scenes content.