By Karen TongTuesday 9 Aug 2011MusicReading Time: 2 minutes
Anberlin fans can expect the unexpected as the alternative rock band make their way to Australia to perform a series of intimate gigs across the country.
Karen Tong recently caught up with frontman Stephen Christian to hear about what we can look forward to.
“It’s a whole night of firsts for Anberlin,” the band’s front man Stephen Christian says of the their An Evening With Anberlin tour, which will make it’s way to Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on September 1.
“This is one of the biggest things we’ve ever done, something that we’re going to put on and maybe never do again.”
The two-and-a-half hour set will feature guest vocalists, fan requests, never before played songs.
“There’s an acoustic breakdown in the middle where people can ask us questions or request songs,” Christian says.
The band is also keen to showcase tracks from their latest album, Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place.
“My favourite song has to be the mood set by Impossible,” Christian says, “it’s the most fun song to sing on stage because it’s the one that everyone sings along to.”
This latest record draws inspiration from books, Art of War is based on Sun Tzu’s novel and draws on the relationships between love and war, to social justice, We Owe This To Ourselves is a call to action based on the work of Martin Luther King Jr, to life experiences.
“The acoustic song called Down and it possibly the most personal song I’ve written in many, many years,” Christian says.
But the most memorable moment for Christian on their latest record was discovering that Brendan O’Brien, who has worked with major recording artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam, would be producing the band’s album.
“When your mum says ‘I like your band’, that really doesn’t mean much,” Christian says, “but when Brendan O’Brien likes your band – you feel euphoric.”
“I would give anything to work with that guy again.”
In the meantime, the band is gearing up for Australia and won’t be back in the studio recording until February 2012.
It will be Anberlin’s eighth trip down under and Christian is hoping to finally see a koala or two.
“I have never actually been to a koala park – I had the opportunity to go on a day off on a previous trip but I was exhausted so I just slept,” Christian says.
For a full list of tour dates and to get tickets head to www.anberlin.com
Watch Impossible from Anberlin