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Anberlin: Heaven Sent
They cracked the Top 20 and captured the hearts of thousands of fans, but are ANBERLIN capable of changing the world?Story: Jonah Bayer Photos: Ralf Strathmann In another life, Stephen Christian could be a preacher. That statement has nothing to do with his band, Anberlin, being outspoken Christians who have released three full-lengths on Tooth & Nail Records. And it's not based on the obvious fact that hidden beneath his carefully swooped hair, the Anberlin frontman has the type of chiseled facial features Midwestern housewives swoon over. No, the reason the Florida-based songwriter could easily enter a pulpit on a Sunday morning is the palpable excitement and awe he emits when talking about everything from his volunteer work to his band's latest album, Cities, to, unbelievably, the recent loss of the band's guitarist Nathan Strayer. ("If there was ever going to be a split in the band, I just walked into the most ideal situation ever," is Christian's take on Strayer's departure.) If The 700 Club had more personalities like this, they'd never need to hold telethons. Besides, right now, Christian's got plenty to keep him busy. Anberlin-Christian, guitarist Joseph Milligan, drummer Nate Young and bassist Deon Rexroat (Acceptance guitarist Christian McAlhaney is currently assuming Anberlin's second-guitar role)-had their latest album debut on the Billboard charts at No.19; made their first national television appearance on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson; garnered reviews in decidedly un-hip mainstream publications like USA Today and The New York Times; and embarked on a largely sold-out headlining tour alongside Bayside, Meg & Dia and Jonezetta. However, while most artists in his situation would be content to gush in print about how great their fans and label are (something both Christian and Young will do eventually), right now, Christian is dead-set on proving his band's mainstream breakthrough is no novelty. "I understand that 'Christians in a band' was a really big gimmick for a while-it was like the Tickle Me Elmo was in the '90s," the singer explains when asked why he doesn't like discussing certain subjects during interviews. "I am just so excited that the novelty is finally wearing off and now we're just people in bands. I was talking to Anthony [Raneri, Bayside frontman] the other day, and I told him I just read an article where the entire thing is on my beliefs, and it didn't mention one word about my music. Isn't that crazy?" Although his voice raises significantly when asking that rhetorical question, there's not nearly as much incredulity in Christian's voice as is disappointment. "But then we started talking, and Anthony was saying most of their interviews are about the [van] accident, and Meg [Frampton] from Meg & Dia said every interview compares her band to Tegan And Sara, so I guess it's across the board," he adds, sighing. "People want their song and dance to have a catch to it, you know?" Thankfully, writing songs that have a catch to them doesn't seem to be a problem for Anberlin. Although the band once again worked with longtime producer Aaron Sprinkle (MxPx, Emery) for Cities, they spent a full two months in the studio tracking the album, part of which was done at London Bridge in Seattle-the same studio Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains used to fine-tune their arena-grunge sound in the late '90s. "It was really weird this time around because we were used to doing our records so fast," Young explains, adding when he finished his drum parts a day early, the confused band had an impromptu barbecue. However, the band also lost Nathan Strayer during the recording process, the third rhythm guitarist the band have had since forming in 2002. "There was kind of a transition in the studio and everybody realized that the direction I wanted to head musically wasn't where Nathan saw his next step," Christian explains. "At that point it was just talk, but when we were getting a little closer to the release, he decided that our music wasn't really his passion anymore, and he wanted to go on and play his style of music. So it's awesome." And the question remains: Can Anberlin really change the world? Find out by picking up AP 227. Click HERE for the official AP review of Cities. |
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