This Providence Reunite in Seattle for First Show Since 2012

Photos: Rachel Ford

Fourteen years is a long time. But you wouldn’t know it’s been that long since This Providence took the stage on October 2 in Seattle if you didn’t know better. 

The four-piece reunited on Friday, Oct. 2, for the first time since Spring 2012, in their hometown of Seattle, and the 90-minute performance felt like a love letter to their fans who’ve stuck by them for the last 20 years. 

The four-piece, consisting of Dan Young (vocals), Gavin Phillips (guitar), David Blaise (bass) and Andy Horst (drums), played their self-titled album in full, but not in the way you’d expect. The band intertwined songs from their first, independent release, Our Worlds Divorce, playing popular tracks “Truth and Reconciliation,” “Our Flag is White,” “Certain Words in Uncertain Times", and more, as well as tracks from their third and final release, Who Are You Now, while surprising the sold-out crowd with an appearance by original band members, bass player Phil Cobrea, drummer Ryan Tapert and guitar player Sean Gasperetti on guest vocals. 

This Providence was a band signed to Fueled By Ramen during their commonly referred to ‘peak’ era, beginning in 2006. They toured with acts including Paramore, Cute is What We Aim For, Reliant K, and more. While they never quite experienced the same level of success as some of these other acts, their fans stayed with them through a hiatus that lasted more than a decade, and the love was clear from the crowd to the stage and vice versa throughout the night. 

Fans travelled from across the continental United States, Hawaii, Canada and overseas for this one-night-only event, and I think it’s safe to say no one regretted that decision. 

This writer has attended hundreds of shows - from basements with fewer than a dozen people in the crowd, to local bands in bars, seeing smaller bands that later blew up, mid-sized clubs, arenas and stadiums. And, it is safe to say, getting the opportunity to see This Providence in 2026 was the most special show I’ve ever been fortunate to witness. They should feel so proud of what they built and that it has stood the test of time. It’s clear they care about their fans and community just as much as the fans and community care about them. 

They sing “If loving were easy, it wouldn’t be love,” but every minute of this night felt like the easiest display of love I’ve ever experienced, and was well worth travelling thousands of miles for. 

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SETLIST:

• A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

• Card House Dreamer

• Secret Love and the Fastest Way to Loneliness

• Truth and Reconciliation

  (surprise performance with original co-founder of band, Phil Cobrea)

• Our Flag Is White

  (with Phil Cobrea)

• Losing Control

  (with Phil Cobrea, also joined by former guitarist Sean Gasperetti on guitar)

• ...But What Will They Say?

  (with Sean Gasperetti)

• Anything Is Possible

  (with Sean Gasperetti)

• Waste Myself

• This Is the Real Thing

• The Road to Jericho Is Lined With Starving People

  (joined by former drummer Ryan Tapert on backup vocals alongside Sean Gasperetti & Phil Cobrea)

• Happy Birthday to You

  (Band and crowd sang for drummer Andy Horst’s 40th birthday)

• Walking on Water

• An Ocean Between

• Certain Words in Uncertain Times

• My Beautiful Rescue

• The Pursuit of Happiness: The 1st Movement

• The Pursuit of Happiness: The 2nd Movement

• Well Versed in the Ways of the World

• Letdown