Review: Anberlin at Astor Theatre

Anberlin at Astor Theatre
w/ Hawthorne Heights, The Word Alive
Sunday, January 21, 2024

Astor Theatre hosted an epic night of rock last Sunday as Anberlin, accompanied by The Word Alive and Hawthorne Heights, absolutely tore up the stage. The significance of the evening was heightened by the knowledge that this marked vocalist Stephen Christian's final tour in the country for the foreseeable future.



The night began on a powerful note as The Word Alive stepped onto the stage and delivered a blistering set that came close to stealing the entire show. Renowned for combining metalcore and electronic elements in their music, this performance introduced a heavier contrast to the evening's line-up. While classic tracks like Why Am I Like This? were unsurprisingly brilliant, the live renditions of cuts from their newest album, Hard Reset, were incredible. The band’s energy throughout this performance was unmatched, and Tyler Smith’s vocal performance was one of the best you will ever witness. It would be an understatement to say the bar was set high.

Up next was a wholesome and surprisingly motivational set from post-hardcore legends Hawthorne Heights. The Ohio-based band belted out their most beloved emo anthems, crafting a fun set that the audience appreciated. Their emotive performance elicited frequent sing-alongs from the crowd, and J.T. Woodruff’s thoughtful exposition in-between songs created a charming atmosphere.

“The reason we play this music and write this music is to feel better for just a little fucking while,” he said. “So do us a favour. Turn your brain off. Forget about what’s going on in there. Forget about what’s going on out there. Forget about the entire rest of the world and just focus on how we are here together. Right fucking now. We only have this moment, so we have to make it last. The reason we are together is because we have all been through ups and downs in our lives. We have all been through times of sadness. Times of heartbreak. And for the last twenty years, we have all been one hundred percent emotional together! So let’s all have a good fucking time tonight, alright?”

The final track of Hawthorn Heights’ set, Ohio Is For Lovers, became a rallying point for fans and really emphasised the profound connection the group has with their audience. As they exited the stage, Woodruff invited everybody to meet the band in the foyer, which was a sweet final gesture to their devoted fans.

After witnessing two incredible sets, excitement buzzed through the air as the crowd eagerly awaited the headline act, Anberlin, to take the stage. Following a brief interlude, the boys stepped into the spotlight wearing uniformed all-white attire, inciting a frenzied response from the audience. The fans in Perth were primed with excitement and were ready to send vocalist Stephen Christian off in style.

Anberlin took the audience through a musical journey that spanned their entire discography, featuring their biggest hits from acclaimed albums like Cities and Never Take Friendship Personal, presenting a nostalgic trip for longtime fans. They also opted to play a few of their newer cuts, extending to their underrated 2023 EP Convinced, which added a fresh vibe to the performance.

The entirety of Anberlin’s set served as a testament to the band’s musical versatility, staying power, and their ability to deliver one of the best live shows in the world. Christian’s vocals were as flawless as ever, and the chemistry among the band members was on point. Every single track carried a palpable weight of emotion, making the evening a little bittersweet at times. When the main set eventually did reach its crescendo with the legendary track Feel Good Drag, the audience erupted, passionately singing along with Christian, offering a sendoff befitting such a legend in the scene.

After a brief encore, Anberlin promised that they would return to Australia one day. And we look forward to holding them to that!

HARRISON JONES

Photos by Linda Dunjey