Anberlin Band • Page 251

Yeah, not that song quality really matters when the subject is so bad, but boy is that album bad lyrically and musically, it's a total dumpster fire top to bottom.

My favorite thing about the last album's rollout is that Matt Theissen was announced to be on two songs, but when the album came out those two tracks were replaced with demos of those songs instead, likely because Matt axed himself from the album. Wish Stephen cared enough to do that too

 

I went to the show last night in Charlotte, I have thoughts. Bear with me.

1. Contrary to what I've read some other folks saying, The Dangerous Summer was tight. AJ was on point, and the current lineup was really solid and locked in. They played a lot of their newer material and it is really great live. I felt a bit bummed that the crowd didn't respond to them more. I feel like there would be a decent overlap of fanbases for these three bands.

2. Copeland sounded incredible. With all of the anniversary re-records going on right now, In Motion would be such a perfect choice. The album hit completely differently live, with some updated arrangements and flourishes of their more modern records. I couldn't believe how heavy the album sounded live, in parts - Love Is A Fast Song was CRUSHING.

Before they played Kite, Aaron talked about how this is one of their least popular songs and said they were thinking about subbing it out. There was a young girl up front with her parents wearing a Copeland shirt. She was jumping up and down losing her mind to every song. When they started playing Kite, she pulled out a drawing of a kite she made and held it up. She ended up giving it to Aaron, and one of the Laurenson brothers gave her a setlist. Really sweet moment, and a reminder that every song can mean something to someone.

3. Anberlin honestly was a great time. Everything was so blaringly loud that if you weren't a dedicated fan, you probably didn't realize the difference in vocalists. Matty was pretty drowned out most of the time.

I have my issues with the way Anberlin has handled this whole thing, and I am not a fan of Matty's vocals, but I'd be lying if I said he didn't win me over a little bit. His energy was electric, and you could tell he was just so excited to be doing this. He was incredibly humble about the situation - he introduced himself at the start as "I'm Matty, and these guys are Anberlin." He continued to make comments about how grateful he was to be chosen, and how the other guys in the band were quality people and deserved your support no matter what you thought of him. They encore'd with The Resistance, High Stakes, Impossible, and Godspeed.

Bonus info/messy stuff:

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was in attendance. TDS announced that they will have a song on the next NASCAR game's soundtrack.

During Copeland's set, Aaron made a speech about how he was proud of Anberlin for carrying on despite "having a vocalist that stepped back" and "trolls in comment sections telling you those aren't your songs" etc. He talked about producing Lowborn and how there are some bands who have one or two creative leaders. He said that during the recording of Lowborn, he realized that Anberlin have 5 independent creative leaders and that those songs belong to all of them equally. I can't recall the entire speech but my wife and I both couldn't help but feel that the tone and phrasing was a little snarky towards Stephen.

Before they played Feel Good Drag, Matty made a pretty funny joke about this next one being a "deep cut" and told the crowd to nod along like they know it lol

Anberlin's vocalist change was referenced by every band, but Stephen's name was never mentioned. Not that it had to be, I just found it interesting.

One of my best friends works sound for the venue, and spent all day with the bands. He told me the "biggest dick" of the day was Aaron Marsh by far. He said he was condescending to everyone, all day long lol. He said that Matty was incredibly sweet and that Nate (drummer of Anberlin) was the coolest of all of them. He also said that TDS were super kind to him.

 

sad to hear about Aaron. when i met him a decade ago he was super nice. the comments on Lowborn make sense considering that the band recorded all of their parts separately from Stephen.

 

Nate, indeed, is the coolest.

 

Sounds basically like the same rundown of the shows in Austin/San Antonio. Except Aaron mentioned everyone but the band loves Kite. Which is funny because I always hated Kite too but that was always all my friends favorite song off that album.

Matty did the same kind of putting that separation between himself and the band. Also loved his live performance, he definitely brings a good energy to the band much like Stephen did in that regard.

Aaron just seems like he can be a bit of a curmudgeon but have that same speech about bands having different driving forces.

 

This is amazing. It's what shows/music is all about.

 

yikes, if I were Stephen I also would not want to hang with these guys anymore.

 

Think you guys may be reading too much into a speech and one picture, just saying

 

yeah, the picture is cringey, but i don't think they'd act any differently if Stephen was still actively in the band (other than maybe not throwing up a middle finger in photos with him since he's a minister and all). i just think that's always been the dynamic between the other 4 members.

 

They rode go karts around a track with Dale Jr. I would be amped too.

 

To be honest I have the same reaction to people doing the middle finger in photos even if they're not Anberlin. Shits been played out since like 8th grade.

 

They announced a Pittsburgh date for a NTFP show with The Almost and Watashi Wa.

So happy to be able to say “nope” to that.

 

Insane that Wastashi Wa is still being taken on tours

 

The Almost are still going? I thought they kinda disappeared after the Aaron solo Almost album.

 

The real question is how many former tooth and nail dudes are anti vax but just smart enough to not put it on twitter? My guess? A bunch

 

that or they don't find views like that a dealbreaker with the company they keep. upsetting either way

 

Finally some Northeast dates! Just bummed we get The Almost and Wabash Wa instead of Copeland and The Dangerous Summer/Spitalfield.

 

I’ll never understand why they just keep on associating with Watashi Wa

 

It's pretty easy to understand... they don't care about, and very likely agree with many of, his views

 

I love how at this point they think we don’t know the almost is Aaron Gillespie lol

 

Anberlin but slightly worse, An Anti-Vaxxer, and the Second Most Annoying Member of Underoath. What a lineup.

 

wait, who's the most annoying? i always thought Aaron was the most annoying, lol

 

Listening to "Never Take Friendship Personal" now, how are there still mainstream y2k emo albums I haven't listened to yet?

Edit: Wow, this is the most generic of all the mainstream y2k emo albums I've listened to, excepting the stuff that got into Top 40 hits (Greenday, FOB, etc.) and yet I STILL love it while cognizant of that "fact"...

 

The funny thing was I thought it was Stephen who had pushed Watashi Wa connections, but turns out it’s the whole band.

 

no, it's definitely tim.