Music • Anberlin
moves forward with large U.S. tour with
Hawthorne Heights. Anberlin
Hawthorne Heights and Anberlin stole the show
By
Dylana Foy
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
Hawthorne Heights, Anberlin and Atreyu came together for one show and rocked
out to a packed audience for a live Web broadcast, at the El Rey Feb. 8.
The show was broadcast live via Network live on AOL and XM Satellite. It was
also filmed for “On Demand” availability.
Hawthorne Heights was headlining due to popularity of it’s last record “The
Silence in Black and White” (Victory Records, 2004), and radio hits “Ohio
is For Lovers” and “Niki FM.” Singer JT Woodruff complained
of a sinus infection, but he didn’t sound any different from his already
nasally voice.
The band played mostly new songs.
“
We’re going to try and mix in the new ones every so often. Hope you don’t
get mad at us,” Woodruff said. The audience didn’t seem to mind
and kept on cheering. They played songs they had never played before, but some
audience members knew the lyrics.
The band just got back from a tour of England, but Woodruff responded to cheers
by saying, “Don’t cheer for England. You are so much cooler over
here.”
Now that it is back in the States, Hawthorne Heights is promoting it’s
new record, “If Only You Were Lonely,” which will be released Feb.
28.
The music all sounded very similar, sometimes songs would transition into one
another without any noticeable difference between the two. But the band tried
to put on a good show. Casey Calvert (guitar/throat) said, “We try to
give them something more than just playing instruments.”
Eron Bucciarelli (drums) said, “It’s one thing if we sound good,
and that’s cool, but if it’s not entertaining, then we aren’t
doing our job.”
Indie rock group Anberlin opened the show with singer Stephan Christian standing
on an amp. The band has received critical
acclaim for it’s rock/pop music and heartfelt lyrics. The group played
a set consisting of a mix of new and old tracks. It’s last album “Blueprints
for the Black Market” (Tooth & Nail 2003) was successful thanks to
extensive touring and a very loyal fan base. It’s new record, “Never
Take Friendship Personal” (Tooth & Nail 2005), was recently released
and the band is hoping for more radio hits.
“
I’m a little nervous,” said singer Christian before the show
started.
He said it was an unusual feeling for him because they tour so much, but with
the live broadcast it was making him feel a little anxious. Still, he was excited
for the show and the start of a new tour.
Anberlin just filmed it’s first major music video Feb. 6. It was it’s
first video with a storyline, and with more than 20 people there to film it.
It was a very exciting time for the group, as the band is starting to get more
recognition in mainstream music.
Singer/songwriter Christian delivers songs personal to him and that other people
can relate to.
“
None of my songs are fake,” Christian said. “I never sit down
to write something that I think is going to be really catchy, or that I think
is cute. I sit down and write about what happened in my life. I go back in
my journals and see what hurt, or what was amazing, and find the emotion
that was behind that.”
Sometimes it can be hard for Christian to wear his heart on his sleeve – he
makes sure his lyrics are accessible. On first listen, “Time and Confusion” on “Never
Take Friendship Personal,” sounds like it is about a boy and a girl trying
to make it out on their own. According to the singer, though the lyrics are
a message he wrote for his band.
“
I wrote this while our band was just starting to tour [and were barely making
it.] I wanted to say that at our hardest times, and at our weakest moments,
it’s not about the money. It’s about our passions.”
The most popular band of the night seemed to be metalcore band Atreyu. However
the Orange County band didn’t play enough songs for the audience’s
liking. Once off-stage, the crowd chanted for more songs from the band.
Atreyu had much more interaction with the audience than the rest of the evening’s
bands. Lead singer’Alex Varkatzas told the crowd to “rock out,
have a good time, [and] be safe.” He also asked – actually, screamed – “are
you ready to dance!? Are you ready to sing!?”
The audience went crazy during the songs, throwing their hands in the air,
banging their heads and moshing.
Recently, Atreyu has been busy recording it’s new album, “Death
Grip on Yesterday,” which will be released March 28. It’s latest
single, “Her Portrait in Black,” can be found on the soundtrack
for “Underworld: Evolution.”
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