Attending concerts has always been a pleasure, and when I caught wind that Anberlin would be stopping by along with: There For Tomorrow, Straylight Run, and Scary Kids Scaring Kids I counted myself and some friends in. The show transpired in a former church turned nightclub / intimate concert venue in downtown Pontiac, Michigan.

Although I’ve attended over 180 shows I had yet to experience any of the opening acts, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Around 7:00 There For Tomorrow took stage. The first thing that caught my eye was the rather youthful appearance of its members. Their set consisted of a half-hour of pop/scene rock, slightly reminding of a less catchy Sherwood. Their set wasn’t entirely impressive, but it seemed the young nature of the band ensured time to mature.

 Following There For Tomorrow was a brief intermission during which a friend and I made our way toward the merch tables. Noting a few Anberlin shirts we’d like to purchase, our eyes wandered to some awfully plain looking shirts and track jackets sporting the name of the upcoming act Straylight Run.  Making our way back, we were greeted by the sound of the band taking stage. Their show more than made up for the uninspiring shirts. Stylistically the band seemed a fusion of Mewithoutyou and Mutemath, and although it was apparent that many in the crowd were unfamiliar with them, most seemed very pleased by the end of their set.

Scary Kids Scaring Kids were next on the bill, a classic screamo act hailing from Gilbert, Arizona. Unfortunately their performance wasn’t up to par with the aforementioned act. Creativity and originality seemed to lack on various levels, as the audience was treated to 40 minutes of what some would consider “cliché loud music.” The performance typified the average screamo act, average being the unfortunate part. There just wasn’t anything that made them stand out, from all the shows I’ve attended.  Granted I will not write them off, as I may need to be more familiar with their material before seeing them. However their live show didn’t pick me up at all. Take Emery, strip away the dual layered vocals, and some of the more unique elements, add a tad of aggression and you have Scary Kids Scaring Kids.

Following their set was the one we’d been waiting for. The lights dimmed the crowd cheered, exponentially louder, as each member’s silhouette slowly made way onto the stage. Stephen Christian was the last to show himself before breaking into “Disappear,” a driving rock anthem from their latest release. Despite being a relatively new song, the crowd passionately sang along, word for word, showing the energetic frontman their dedication.

Following the opener, was the pleasant surprise “Never Take Friendship Personal” the title track from their sophomore debut. As with every Anberlin show, the Florida quintet gave their best. Knowing exactly what the audience came for, they launched into fan favorites “the Unwinding Cable Car” and the now 3 year old but still fresh as ever “Feel Good Drag.” It was obvious the crowd was familiar with their whole discography, as they cheered upon Anberlin’s launch into “A Day Late” the band’s first single of 2005.

Talk between songs was kept to a minimum, as they progressed from one track to the next. Continuing in the tradition of the evening they broke out “Adelaide” and “Dismantle. Repair.,” both of their 2006 record “Cities.” Although the tour was promoting their latest release, “New Surrender,” only two of the fourteen songs came from it: “Disappear” and “The Resistance.”  For someone who’s seen them 4 times this was a slight let down, however I’m sure first timers were more than pleased.

The rest of the night consisted of songs such as: “Godspeed,” “A Whisper and a Clamour,” and “Inevitable.”  They closed with the epic nine minute “*Fin” which has become a staple in their setlist. (all 4 shows I’ve been to have ended with it) The show was more than passionate, however I couldn’t help but notice the band did seem a little worn out, possibly based on the fact that the was mid-tour, instead of the beginning of end. Regardless the evening was more than worth the time and trip, and if Anberlin happens to stop by your town make it your goal to see them.

Anberlin Set List (No Particular Order)

Disappear
Never Take Friendship Personal
The Unwinding Cable Car
Adelaide
Dismantle. Repair.
The Resistance
Godspeed
Inevitable
A Whisper and a Clamour
The Feel Good Drag
Hello Alone
A Day Late
Paperthin Hymn
*Fin

All pictures shown taken by Kory Flynn.