Anberlin

I attended both the Anberlin discussion and concert, held yesterday. I thoroughly enjoy the concept of having a time of discussion with the band to discuss their music as an art. Not being used as a time for autographs or pictures, we were able to come together as students and ask them about their music without the typical hype of the press. The first question was raised by Ken Heffener, an inquiry he always asks at these discussion sessions: what are you members of the band reading? Answers ranged from Christian Classics to Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts. From there, a number of questions were asked. They talked about how their music "control" hasn't changed since they switched to a major record label and what influences the songs they choose to play for a set at concerts. One question I thought particularly pertained to Pop Culture in the Empire was a question about why they made the decision to be a “secular” Christian band. First of all, Steven Christian answered that he didn’t like to use the word “secular” but instead refer to it as a “general market.” He clarified he did not want to be in the Christian music industry (which is the fastest growing music industry—17% a year) for the money but rather play for the general market just to get the word out there. In this way, Anberlin has had the opportunity to tread the same stage as hit bands such as Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance. By doing this, their lyrics which are filled with personal stories, emotion, and heartache can make in impact on a typically unreachable crowd.

Using their concert as a “Cultural Artifact” I felt that their music, though seemingly non-Christian, cries out for the Kingdom by proclaiming hope. Sinfulness and falleness are portrayed lyrically in brokenness, loss, and pain that accompanies out human lives. Further, amidst the troubles of this world, salvation exists. I’m not entirely familiar with all their work but from what I’ve heard, they don’t blatantly preach the gospel from their music. On this observation I raise a question: If the band is considered to be a witness amidst the empire, what part of their music “draws” the un-churched toward Christian circles if the gospel of grace/salvation is not more clearly presented?

All in all, I highly respect the talent present in Anberlin and look forward to what music will be released in the future.