BY MAUI CABRAL There was no better way for my year to end than this. Last show of the year. My favorite venue. A band celebrating 25 year...
BY MAUI CABRAL
There was no better way for my year to end than this. Last show of the year. My favorite venue. A band celebrating 25 years of doing it their way.
Walking into The Ritz that night felt different. Not rushed. Not chaotic. Just present. One of those moments where you know you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Bloom opened the night quietly, but with intention. Their set felt heavy in the best way. The kind of music that doesn’t need to be loud to hit hard. It pulled the room in instead of pushing it. From behind the camera, it felt like the calm before a long emotional ride.
Then came Free Throw, and everything loosened up. Their set was raw and relatable, the kind of emo that feels more like a confession than a performance. Nothing over-polished. Just emotion spilling out in real time. People screamed those lyrics like no tomorrow.
Watching Thursday take the stage felt like watching history breathe again. This is a band that helped build the foundation for so much of the music we still love today. Their set wasn’t about nostalgia... it was about relevance. About message. About emotion that still cuts just as deep. There was weight in every song. And respect in every reaction from the crowd.
When Silverstein finally walked out, it didn’t feel like a victory lap. It felt like gratitude, like a band that knows exactly where they came from and why they’re still here. Their set stretched across eras, each song hitting someone in the room differently. You could feel it in the way people sang not just loud, but together. Shane carried the room effortlessly, balancing reflection with the same energy that’s kept this band alive for 25 years.
From the pit, I wasn’t just shooting..I was soaking it in. Hands in the air. Eyes closed. Voices cracking mid-chorus. That kind of connection doesn’t come from trends. It comes from time.
Being my last show of the year, this one sat heavier, in a good way. Standing at The Ritz, camera in hand, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much live music has shaped my life. The people. The stories. The moments you don’t realize matter until you’re standing in them. This night wasn’t about endings. It was about appreciation. Silverstein celebrating 25 years. Me closing out a year of shows. And The Ritz, once again, feeling like home. Couldn’t have asked for a better way to end it.
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- JOSH "MAUI" CABRAL
Hey! I'm Maui. Originally from Queens, New York, now making Raleigh, NC my new home. I'm a touring photographer and Nomadic Motorcycle Rider, obsessed with seeing the world through different lenses!
Read Maui's posts here
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