Third time's a charm? Nah, its fourth time for me. Because not only was this the fourth album from the Christian rockers Anberlin, but this was the fourth time I've had the chance to catch Steven and the boys show their talents on stage.

Remembering my first show in 2006, their show really hasn't changed much. The energy is still in high supply and the music is still perfection. The notes that Steven is able to hit are just incredible. And with the recent release of New Surrender the band had an opportunity to play a set punctuated with new hits.

The set started out just like the new album, with "The Resistance" which I personally feel is the strongest song on the album. The intensity of the drums and guitar is absolutely insane, those mixed with lyrics "Speak for yourself/you've got a riot on your hands," makes this song just undeniably powerful. Next you get "A Whisper And A Clamour" from the album Cities. This too is a very powerful song that shows the pure genius this band has in the writing between guitar, drum and vocals. In "The Resistance" the drums mimic hand clapping and it's almost ironic that this song follows with its lyrics: "Clap your hands, all ye children." Following is a slightly poppy-er tune "Breaking," dealing with those ever-so-common themes of love, or the lack thereof. The energy subsided on this one a bit and allowed more delicate vocals to shine through.

Then came the favorites: Next to "Day Late Friend" it was "Paperthin Hymn" that gained Anberlin that next gaggle of fans. And the music video for the song, which was filmed in a hospital, brought attention to not only the underlying theme of death and dying, but to the strength and talent that Anberlin had as a band. Therefore naturally this song is always a given addition to the set list. You have a hit from Never Take Friendship Personal, and thus, next must come a hit from Cities. For that we heard "Godspeed." This is like Anberlin on Red Bull. The tempo is just unmatched by any other song of theirs, and that tempo pulsates through each member. Some of the best lyrics I've ever heard come from this song: "Burning down Neverland, scatter the ashes!" They're simple and possibly gruesome, but inevitably get stuck in your head. Then when you're lucky enough to hear this song live, you'd be surprised the emotion that comes out during the first few moments of this song. And don't forget about those 'hey heys'- that deserves and invokes a few fist pumps in the air.

Lastly was their current big hit off the new album "Feel Good Drag." Now, if you're a die-hard Anberlin fan (and I'd like to think that I am) you know that the origin of this song is really off of Never Take Friendship Personal. You can also hear the slight change in musical style that they did to the song to adapt it to the new album. The song in its original format was seductive, yet had some amazing and gut-wrenching vocals that made you fall in love with it. The new version is rocked out. The seductive is gone and the gut-wrenching vocals are a little toned down (just slightly). It's as though the original had all these levels to it: the high-pitched gnarling alternative guitar at the beginning and Christian's silky voice lacey on top of it all. The new version is leveled out on some kind of middle of the rock-road playing ground. Don't get me wrong, it's still a great song. I'm just not sure I would've changed it. Though to most of the crowd that night, I'm sure no one really knew what version was played and in the end, live is live.

With four other large acts on the night's bill, Anberlin got merely a 40 min set, if that, and in my experience that's not enough time for one to really grasp what this band has to offer. Hopefully though, it was enough time to perk a few ears and in turn convert a few new fans to the die-hardness of Anberlin.

-Rachel Fredrickson

Anberlin
w/ Taking Back Sunday, The Used, Alkaline Trio & The Offspring
May 22nd, 2009
City Market
Kansas City, MO

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