MANILA, Philippines—It was a rainy Saturday night, the SM North EDSA Sky Garden floor was slippery, yet more than a hundred people were lined up by the Skydome’s entrance.
Out of curiosity, passersby checked the posters stuck on the walls, perhaps to see who’s performing that night. But upon realizing that they know nothing of the band which the lined up fans were waiting for, these curious bystanders went on with their walk, some even sneered before taking off.
It took quite a while before the doors finally opened, but when it did, it was then that the fans of the 12-year-old group felt that this is it. It is almost goodbye with Anberlin.
When the group came out on stage, lead vocalist Stephen Christian, guitarists Joseph Milligan and Chirstian McAlhaney, bassist Deon Rexroat, and drummer Nathan Young were welcomed by cheers and moderately loud screams.
Anberlin kicked off the farewell show with “Paperthin Hymn”.
Intense
The overwhelming unison of the instruments definitely brought the audience to their feet. In fact as the crowd jumped and sang along with the songs, even the floor experienced its fair share of trembling for this final Anberlin show in Manila.
The hype was sustained throughout the set where “Little Tyrants”, “Self-Starter”, “Ready Fuels”, “Never Take Friendship Personal”, and “Someone Anyone” were played.
But the mood shifted from “headbang rock” to a “cold drive down the ocean side” when the group hit “Other Side”, “The Symphony of the Blase”, “Take Me (As You Found Me)”, “The Unwinding Cable Car”, and “Inevitable”. It was a delight seeing couples hug and plant a kiss on one’s forehead while enjoying these mellow songs delivered by the band.
The audience had more reasons to sway, some even with eyes closed, when the group performed “Art of War”, “The Haunting”, and “Breaking”.
Back to head-banging
But when Anberlin played enough gloom, the party went to back to the head-banging vibe with “Impossible”, “Time and Confusion”, “A Day Late”, “Adelaide”, “Dismantle. Repair”, “The Resistance”, and “Godspeed”.
The show ended with what seemed to be a fitting finale, “The Feel Good Drag”.
Anberlin performed a total of 22 songs for its final show in Manila. The “Anberlin Live at the Skydome show” was organized by PULP Live World.