| Anberlin , Philadelphia- Written By Lynn |
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| I first stumbled upon Anberlin's music quite by accident, sometime over the summer when I was looking for something else online, and found them instead. It really took me by surprise, too, because here was this band that I'd actually never heard of, and the songs I was hearing, they just blew me away. The resulting obsession that I developed with this band happened practically overnight, to the point where it took me only a week to have all their music, and already have them in my iPod, and listening daily because I was so blown away by Anberlin's cross-genre, modern-day 80's sound and their creativity. Creativity, because for once, here is a band that's actually managed to stick themselves out there with the mainstream, while also doing something different. Something talented, something that makes them memorable past the end of the CD or the concert, with meaningful lyrics and playing more than just a beat and a melody to stick it all together with. To me, Anberlin's expression, as well as their willingness to experiment with sound and style on their CD, they remind me a little bit of a modern-day Beatles, pushing their sound and themselves for art, rather than just the next catchy tune. So naturally, when Anberlin came to Philly again, I had to go check them out. Supporting Motion City Soundtrack, along with Mae and Metro Station, Anberlin was the second band to play that night at the Electric Factory and for the amount of raving I do about this place, I was unfortunately disappointed that night in the house lighting. The venue is usually a lot better than that, but it seems whoever was taking care of that was having an off night. So was the sound guy, as there were a number of problems with the mics during Anberlin's set, at one point making it so that the lead singer could barely be heard through his mic over the guitars, but even despite that they were still champions on this night. Metro Station played a nice set, five bouncy songs off their new CD, and the audience seemed to respond well to them, but things really got loud when Anberlin took the stage. Launching into the first song of the set, The Feel Good Drag, which is off the band's second CD Never Take Friendship Personal, there really was a huge amount of anticipation from the audience, the way I normally see an audience who's waiting for the headliner of the night. So it only took mere moments for vocalist Stephen Christian and the band – Joseph Milligan and Christian McAlhaney on guitars, Deon Rexroat on bass, and Nathan Young (who in my opinion, aside from Stephen's notable voice, really makes this band what it is) on drums – to get everyone dancing and jumping and singing along, and everyone knew all the words to all the songs, so yes, this was definitely an anticipated show. The next two songs, off the latest smash CD Cities were Hello Again and Adelaide, which had just about every person in the house singing the choruses. that was there for them, the number of people who were in line to meet them and buy their CD rather than standing in the crowd watching the other bands. That has to say something to a band, I'd think, when the kids will miss other performers for the chance to go through a Meet-and-Greet line, because the bands that just don't make that much of an impression, the kids eventually wind up going off to watch the show when it starts again. Needless to say, I was mostly pleased with the performance and the evening, my frustration more with the lighting - hence my photographs are not the best I've ever shot before - and with the sound, which in my opinion is a disrespect to a truly wonderful band. Other than that however, things couldn't have been better. I'm already looking forward to my next chance to see Anberlin, and I really hope it's a headlining show where I can see a full set from them, because they have so many truly amazing songs, I know I'll want to see them all. Or as many as possible. Anberlin is on tour with Motion City Soundtrack, Mae and Metro Station through December 16th, the tour culminating with two nights at the House of Blues in Chicago. In the meantime, label Tooth and Nail Records and the band have just released Lost Songs, a 2-CD album of b-sides, rarities, demos and covers - like Anberlin's wonderful covers of Enjoy the Silence, The Promise, and There Is A Light - among others. For more information about Anberlin and what they're up to, and to check for future tour dates (because they really are something to be seen, heard and appreciated), please visit the band's myspace or their Offical website below. for some other inspiring reading, also be sure to check out vocalist Stephen Christian's weblog, The Modesty Writer's Guild. (Please note, this is not a fan blog, but rather Stephen's personal thoughts that he has decided to share with the world.) Special thanks to Chelsi Shriver for making this review possible. |
| x4 |
BAND: Anberlin
VENUE: Electric
Factory,
Philadelphia
DATE:
November 14th
VENUE: Electric
Factory,
Philadelphia
DATE:
November 14th
Also off "Friendship", A Day Late, and Paperthin Hymn were next, after
which point Stephen took a few moments of a break to talk to the
audience and thank them all for showing up, and when they went into
Dismantle.Repair, it seemed as though, literally, the place would be
dismantled.
Closing their short, but excellent, set with Godspeed, Anberlin left the
stage having definitely pleased the fans that were there to see them - and
there were quite a few, who bought tickets to see the band, and not the
headliner, as I learned talking to kids afterward - and definitely having
made a few more fans while they were at it.
Following Anberlin, Mae played, and I'm going to agree with comments
that I've been seeing online, on message boards here and there saying
that although Mae played a "nice set," they were really boring on stage,
and should never have played after Anberlin. As a matter of fact, I'll even
go as far as to say that I feel Anberlin should have been the headliner in
this lineup, since the band seemed to have the most to offer its fans that
night, and definitely didn't get enough time to play for us, but of course
the Motion City fans might disagree with that. Either way, Anberlin
seems to be one of those bands that's really going places, and seems to
have a stable, loyal following, and they've definitely got the talent and the
sounds to hopefully do a headlining show some time soon.
After the band played, Anberlin did a Meet and Greet session in the lobby
area, sponsored by FYE, where they took pictures with people, signed
their CDs and other things, and generally talked to everyone, and even
without rushing everyone through the line. They seemed genuinely happy
to be meeting their fans, and very appreciative of the amount of support
which point Stephen took a few moments of a break to talk to the
audience and thank them all for showing up, and when they went into
Dismantle.Repair, it seemed as though, literally, the place would be
dismantled.
Closing their short, but excellent, set with Godspeed, Anberlin left the
stage having definitely pleased the fans that were there to see them - and
there were quite a few, who bought tickets to see the band, and not the
headliner, as I learned talking to kids afterward - and definitely having
made a few more fans while they were at it.
Following Anberlin, Mae played, and I'm going to agree with comments
that I've been seeing online, on message boards here and there saying
that although Mae played a "nice set," they were really boring on stage,
and should never have played after Anberlin. As a matter of fact, I'll even
go as far as to say that I feel Anberlin should have been the headliner in
this lineup, since the band seemed to have the most to offer its fans that
night, and definitely didn't get enough time to play for us, but of course
the Motion City fans might disagree with that. Either way, Anberlin
seems to be one of those bands that's really going places, and seems to
have a stable, loyal following, and they've definitely got the talent and the
sounds to hopefully do a headlining show some time soon.
After the band played, Anberlin did a Meet and Greet session in the lobby
area, sponsored by FYE, where they took pictures with people, signed
their CDs and other things, and generally talked to everyone, and even
without rushing everyone through the line. They seemed genuinely happy
to be meeting their fans, and very appreciative of the amount of support
