Show Review: Anberlin Rocks The Avalon

Anberlin, along with Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Straylight Run and There for Tomorrow, rocked the Avalon Hollywood on Wednesday, Oct. 15. I have to admit when I first heard the eclectic line-up of opening bands I was interested to see how it would affect fans coming to only see the headliners, but the supporting acts only built up the energy in the venue.At the end of the highly vigorous and erratic set of post-hardcore main support, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, a major glitch could have potentially ended the night early. One member of the group threw their full water bottle a little too far, right onto the main soundboard, resulting in the music cutting out, stage lights turning off and a very angry sound technician. But after a longer than normal hiatus and the help of a small blow dryer, the anxious fans went wild as Florida-based alternative musicians, Anberlin, finally took the stage.

Starting off with "Disappear," a track from their newly released fourth album "New Surrender" and then jumping right into an old hit, "Never Take Friendship Personal," the band immediately drew in fans by raising the energy level threw the roof. After the two opening songs, lead singer Stephen Christian encouraged the audience to dance and sing because the band "feeds off the audience," resulting in a venue-wide sing-a-long of a fan favorite, "Paperthin Hymn."

By this point, Christian and the other band members had completely captivated the entire Avalon (myself included) with their big sound and smoothly delivered vocals. Next up was another new song, "Breaking;" followed by the upbeat "A Day Late;" the happy-go-lucky new track about a San Francisco Street, "Haight Street;" and their proclaimed most requested song, "Adelaide."

Around the halfway mark was the highpoint of Anberlin's performance. They slowed down the set with a 3-song sequence of some of their most soulful ballads. First was the love song "Inevitable" off their third album, "Cities," featuring some of the sweetest and most sentimental rock lyrics (I want to break every clock/the hands of time could never move again/We could stay in this moment/For the rest of our lives/Is it over now hey, hey is it over now/ I want to be your last, first kiss/that you'll ever have). Then transitioned into "The Unwinding Cable Car" before closing out the ballad interlude with the new slow song "Retrace," that was accompanied by special guest Sean Mackin, the famous violinist from pop-rock band, Yellowcard. This brief, slow diversion left the crowd still and mesmerized by Christian's impressive vocal range and the band's acoustic skills.

To change the pace and bring back the up-tempo environment, Anberlin played songs off their older albums like "Hello Alone," "Feel Good Drag" (also featured as a new single on "New Surrender"), "Godspeed" and "Symphony of Blasé." All of their songs were an enjoyable mix of their four albums that had a stronger rockier feel when sung live. As their enchanting and lengthy 16-song set came to an end, the band came back on the stage for their encore song - the appropriately titled "(*Fin)." During the mellow ending (Mackin also returned to the stage), Anberlin's religious undertones were the most apparent and the music gave off a feel of sincerity and serenity.

I walked out of the Avalon with a giddiness and surge of excitement that can only be categorized as the emotion you feel after experiencing one of most memorable live music performances you have ever seen. Hearing Anberlin's music live made me want to become familiar with all their new material on "New Surrender" and break out their three older albums for some of my original favorites. This is definitely a band whose live performance you won't want to miss next year after they return from their international tour dates in Europe and Australia.