Stare At The Sun by Thrice

"Stare At The Sun" is a standout track from Thrice's 2003 breakthrough album The Artist In The Ambulance, a record that helped define the post-hardcore and alternative rock landscape of the early 2000s. The song received significant radio airplay and introduced Thrice to a wider mainstream audience while retaining the raw energy of their earlier work.

Drummer Riley Breckenridge delivers a straightforward yet driving performance that anchors the track's dynamic shifts between verses and choruses with confident, no-frills rock drumming. At 94 BPM in a steady 4/4 time signature, the drum part prioritizes feel and groove over complexity, making it an accessible but musically rewarding piece to learn.

Unique Drumming Characteristics

• Consistent kick and snare backbeat pattern that drives the mid-tempo groove throughout the song
• Controlled use of crash cymbals to accent transitions into chorus sections
• Steady hi-hat work maintaining an even pulse through verse passages
• Dynamic variation between restrained verse drumming and more open, driving chorus patterns

Skills You'll Develop

• Maintaining a solid, even backbeat at a moderate rock tempo
• Managing dynamic contrast between quieter verses and fuller chorus sections
• Accurate crash cymbal placement at song section transitions
• Building comfort and consistency with 4/4 rock drumming fundamentals