Salt Lake City was wrapped up in Emo nostalgia this past week as the alt/rock emo sounds of the 2000’s echoed throughout The Depot.  Fans filled the venue to see Anberlin’s ‘Never Take Friendship Personal’ 20th Anniversary Tour, celebrating one of the genre’s most popular records.  Joining them at the stop were Copeland, who were performing their album In Motion front to back, and Spitalfield, who opened the night with old favorites and new music.

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Spitalfield warmed the crowd up getting everyone ready for a trip down memory lane to the early 2000’s and showcasing new music with their recent single “Remembering Right Now.”

 

Copeland followed with an emotionally rich performance that pulled at the emo heart strings of everyone in attendance.  The band’s heartfelt delivery of the album In Motion was powered by vocalist Aaron Marsh’s vocals as he switched easily between playing the guitar and piano throughout the set. 

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The highlight of the night was still to come though, and soon arrived, welcomed by the cheering of fans as the lights went down and the notes from “Never Take Friendship Personal” hit the speakers.  Once those notes hit the speakers the energy in the venue went into overdrive and stayed there as the band and Matty Mullins, stepping in for Stephen Christian, transported us to the mid 2000’s.  Mullins brought a new flair to the songs from the album but the passion that he delivered them with was undeniable and the connection with the fans was still there highlighting just how much Anberlin’s music resonates with their fans.  Each song was like welcoming an old friend that we haven’t seen in years as the album was played and then the friend who is the life of the party showed up when “Feel Good Drag” hit the speakers and the crowd went nuts. 

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The night’s event wasn’t just a performance for the fans who attended, it was an emotional connection as fans sang their emo hearts out back to the band word for word and song after song.  Mullins might have been the new face to the band but the music and the band members who have kept this music alive all these years bridged that new divide and showcased the lasting power of Anberlin’s music.  The night turned out to be one of reconnecting and a celebration of their legacy and the community that has grown from their music.