This is Stephen and I sing in Anberlin; right now we are in Australia, and just finished up a few shows in Asia. Every day so far on this tour it has been an amazing adventure! Singapore we went to Universal studios, in Thailand we explored the city, and had some incredible food. In Manilla the show was epic, and wondering around the city I got caught up in a protest against Pork Barrel spending.
Congratulations on making it to 10 years as a band. What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?
Earliest memory of playing a concert was playing shows around the town where we grew up (Winter Haven, Florida). We played a friends house, a trailer, and a church. The earliest memory of an Anberlin show was in Atlanta, Georgia show where we were doing a showcase for Chad Johnson (our future A&R on Tooth and Nail records). He literally called the label boss Brandon Ebel and told him NOT to sign us, Brandon said he wanted us anyway and to just give us a deal.
Boredom inspired us to start, we had a small nothing of a town and the only way out was drinking or starting a band. We picked the later.
What has been your favourite moment of being part of Anberlin over the past 10 years?
There are so many moments that I will take away from the band, so many wonderful exciting memories that I won’t soon forget. I think the best memories are honesty just laughing with my friends, we always have such a good time when were all together and though traveling is fun, playing shows are amazing, but nothing beats the friendships I have made.
On your last Australian tour you revolutionised the live show format by including requests and live Q&A’s. Should your fans expect that on your forthcoming tour?
No, that was a very special tour for us, we wanted to make it once in a lifetime. If we recreated any aspect of that ‘evening with’ then I feel it would cheapen the experience that people had.
Will you be playing mostly tracks off your current album Vital or should your fans expect to hear a plethora of your hits over from of your six albums?
No, I would never want to go see a show where the band ONLY played songs off the new record, we are going to play a little bit off almost every album.
How do you go about finding new music and support bands?
I find the majority of my music from friends and online music resources, word of mouth is any bands biggest advertisement. A lot of bands we choose to tour with are either friends of ours or submit through our booking agent. We then check out all the bands that submit and choose based on creativity and how much we enjoy the music.
Do you have any particular ritual before you go on stage?
We have a few, we individually have our own warm ups/stretching, then we huddle up and pray, then we all have our secret handshakes.
If you could curate your own festival, where would it be, who would be on the bill, how many people would you let in and what features would it have?
Can I bring back a few bands/people from the dead? Currently though it would be Main Stage: The Cure, Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake & Jay Z, and the headliner The Smiths Reunion. Stage II includes bands: Arcade Fire, Sigur Ros, The National, Lana Del Rey (opening) headliner Outkast. Stage III: Still Corners, Caveman, Chairlift, Washed out, Grizzly Bear, & Active Child.
What’s been your most ridiculous rider request that you didn’t think you would receive but did?
We asked them to buy any two movies they liked, and they did!
Because it’s more fun to do things together, which living Australian artist would you most like to collaborate with? Tell us why?
Well my dad would want me to work with the Bee Gee, its his favourite band randomly. But for me it would be Empire of the Sun hands down. They absolutely influenced my side project Anchor & Braille’s latest album The Quiet Life. Other than that I would totally collaborate with Silverchair or Nick Cave.
What is your band’s music the best soundtrack for?
A getaway scene in a black Range Rover, directed by Michael Bay and staring George Clooney.
What’s next for Anberlin in 2014?
Tour, Tour, Tour, and ‘go gentle into that good night’.
Anberlin 2013 Australian Tour Dates & Tickets
With THE MAINE and WILLIAM BECKETT (The Academy Is)
Friday 6 September – Panthers, Newcastle – Lic AA
Saturday 7 September – The Hifi, Sydney – Lic AA
Sunday 8 September – The Palace, Melbourne – 18+
Tuesday 10 September June – The Gov, Adelaide – Lic AA
Wednesday 11 September – Metro, Fremantle – 18+
