Nathan Young - Anberlin (18/08/2014)
Touring Australia one last time this September, The 59th Sound sat down to speak with drummer Nathan Young of Anberlin before they hit our fair shores. With 2007's Cities shooting them into main stream consciousness, Anberlin have become one of alt-rock's biggest exports, famed for their incredible live shows, and in some areas, their religious undertones.
"It’s just one of those things that affected us deeply, so of course it’s going to come through in our music. Really we just wanted to make music that’s positive and it’s one of the things that reaches out to us in our lives."
"Really that’s what I like to do. I like to be real and open and honest about where we’re at. With everything we were always able to help people and connect with people and we’re thankful we could do that for twelve years. We never knew how much time we had as a band. After all, connecting with people is really what it’s all about and it was a way to do that."
Though Anberlin aren't the only alternative band with Christian undertones, there's a world of difference in the way Anberlin conduct themselves and the rest of the younger rabble. These folks that grew up on Anberlin and owe their music to them for somewhat of another side to the same Christ-emblazoned coin. So, just what does the hero of these kids think of them?
"I think it’s awesome to see people looking up to us in that way as they’re getting started and using us to push forward and keep going. I don’t really know though, I’m not really in that world as much. As I said before it seems forced and it seems like that’s their goal, to come across that way. And I think sometimes that it’s pretty easy to see through. Meanwhile there are all of these other bands that are real and good and honest that really don’t get appreciated."
Dropping the Christian side of 'Christian rock', Nathan tells me of the preparation and patience the band have brought to approaching this, Anberlin's last ever shows. It's been a sombre experience, Nathan finds the brightness in it.
"Well, we just did Warped tour in the States for about two months and that was amazing, being able to play so many cities, so many shows in a row. And then yesterday we started the whole final farewell tour. So far it’s been really fantastic and we had so many people greet us and thank us after the show. It’s going to be such a good tour, that’s for sure."
In the background a constant wind bellows into the shared tour bus. At times his voice is shorted out by natures claim on the phone line, but after a few seconds the sides switch again and his Floridian accent comes back in a haze, recalling just how he has gotten to the point that he must personally bid farewell to most of the planet when he wants to quit his dayjob.
" Oh man, it’s one of those things where we just started a band and we just thought about making music and touring, you know?"
"Obviously when you start you’re not thinking about the end and after all the playing and touring and record after record you’re not really thinking of anything else except music. We weren’t really stopping to think about it. You know, when we started I don’t think any of us thought we’d be in a band that lasted so long. The fact that we’ve made it this far is mindblowing. So I guess we didn’t."
But whilst his leaving song is still on its way, it's not the end of everything, and Nathan knows this better than anyone. And so our conversation takes an odd turn when Nathan reveals just what his next big project is: a local chill out spot.
"Yeah, I’ve got some pretty big plans for afterwards. I’ll be starting up a coffee shop with my brother down in Tampa where we both live. The goal is just to a spot that has beer, coffee and wine and all that, really just a cool place. Really it’d just be nice to settle down and live in the city I grew up in with a cool spot I would have liked."
Ben Spencer
"It’s just one of those things that affected us deeply, so of course it’s going to come through in our music. Really we just wanted to make music that’s positive and it’s one of the things that reaches out to us in our lives."
"Really that’s what I like to do. I like to be real and open and honest about where we’re at. With everything we were always able to help people and connect with people and we’re thankful we could do that for twelve years. We never knew how much time we had as a band. After all, connecting with people is really what it’s all about and it was a way to do that."
Though Anberlin aren't the only alternative band with Christian undertones, there's a world of difference in the way Anberlin conduct themselves and the rest of the younger rabble. These folks that grew up on Anberlin and owe their music to them for somewhat of another side to the same Christ-emblazoned coin. So, just what does the hero of these kids think of them?
"I think it’s awesome to see people looking up to us in that way as they’re getting started and using us to push forward and keep going. I don’t really know though, I’m not really in that world as much. As I said before it seems forced and it seems like that’s their goal, to come across that way. And I think sometimes that it’s pretty easy to see through. Meanwhile there are all of these other bands that are real and good and honest that really don’t get appreciated."
Dropping the Christian side of 'Christian rock', Nathan tells me of the preparation and patience the band have brought to approaching this, Anberlin's last ever shows. It's been a sombre experience, Nathan finds the brightness in it.
"Well, we just did Warped tour in the States for about two months and that was amazing, being able to play so many cities, so many shows in a row. And then yesterday we started the whole final farewell tour. So far it’s been really fantastic and we had so many people greet us and thank us after the show. It’s going to be such a good tour, that’s for sure."
In the background a constant wind bellows into the shared tour bus. At times his voice is shorted out by natures claim on the phone line, but after a few seconds the sides switch again and his Floridian accent comes back in a haze, recalling just how he has gotten to the point that he must personally bid farewell to most of the planet when he wants to quit his dayjob.
" Oh man, it’s one of those things where we just started a band and we just thought about making music and touring, you know?"
"Obviously when you start you’re not thinking about the end and after all the playing and touring and record after record you’re not really thinking of anything else except music. We weren’t really stopping to think about it. You know, when we started I don’t think any of us thought we’d be in a band that lasted so long. The fact that we’ve made it this far is mindblowing. So I guess we didn’t."
But whilst his leaving song is still on its way, it's not the end of everything, and Nathan knows this better than anyone. And so our conversation takes an odd turn when Nathan reveals just what his next big project is: a local chill out spot.
"Yeah, I’ve got some pretty big plans for afterwards. I’ll be starting up a coffee shop with my brother down in Tampa where we both live. The goal is just to a spot that has beer, coffee and wine and all that, really just a cool place. Really it’d just be nice to settle down and live in the city I grew up in with a cool spot I would have liked."
Ben Spencer
ANBERLIN
Wednesday 03 Sep - 7:30 Metropolis, 58 South Terrace , Fremantle (18+)
Tickets from www.tickets.destroyalllines,
www.oztix.com.au, www.heatseeker.com.au
or Heatseeker outlets
Thursday 04 Sep - 7:30 HQ, 1 North Terrace , Adelaide (Lic/AA)
Tickets from www.tickets.destroyalllines.com,
www.oztix.com.au,www.venuetix.com.au
or VenueTix outlets
Saturday 06 Sep - 7:30 The HI FI, 132 Boundry Street (West End) , Brisbane (18+)
Tickets from www.tickets.destroyalllines.com,
www.thehifi.com.au or Oztix outlets
Sunday 07 Sep - 7:30 Roundhouse - UNSW, Anzac Parade , Kensington (Lic/AA)
Tickets from www.tickets.destroyalllines.com,
www.ticketek.com.au or Ticketek Outlets
Tuesday 09 Sep - 7:30 The Forum, 154 Flinders St , Melbourne (18+)
Tickets from www.ticketmaster.com.au or Ticketmaster outlets
Wednesday 10 Sep - 19:30 170 Russell, 170 Russell St. , Melbourne (18+)
http://bit.ly/ANBmel10, http://bit.ly/ANB170 or 1300 724 867
Wednesday 03 Sep - 7:30 Metropolis, 58 South Terrace , Fremantle (18+)
Tickets from www.tickets.destroyalllines,
www.oztix.com.au, www.heatseeker.com.au
or Heatseeker outlets
Thursday 04 Sep - 7:30 HQ, 1 North Terrace , Adelaide (Lic/AA)
Tickets from www.tickets.destroyalllines.com,
www.oztix.com.au,www.venuetix.com.au
or VenueTix outlets
Saturday 06 Sep - 7:30 The HI FI, 132 Boundry Street (West End) , Brisbane (18+)
Tickets from www.tickets.destroyalllines.com,
www.thehifi.com.au or Oztix outlets
Sunday 07 Sep - 7:30 Roundhouse - UNSW, Anzac Parade , Kensington (Lic/AA)
Tickets from www.tickets.destroyalllines.com,
www.ticketek.com.au or Ticketek Outlets
Tuesday 09 Sep - 7:30 The Forum, 154 Flinders St , Melbourne (18+)
Tickets from www.ticketmaster.com.au or Ticketmaster outlets
Wednesday 10 Sep - 19:30 170 Russell, 170 Russell St. , Melbourne (18+)
http://bit.ly/ANBmel10, http://bit.ly/ANB170 or 1300 724 867