Anberlin makes last New England stop at UConn

Nationally known band Anberlin came to UConn Sunday afternoon to headline SUBOG's first annual Concert for Causes at the Student Union Mall. Featured songs included several pieces fromthe band's first few albums, as well as a cover of New Order's "True Faith," and the band's rerecorded version of their own "Feel Good Drag," found on their latest album, New Surrender.

When asked why Anberlin would come all the way to Connecticut from Arizona, where the band had just been touring with Blink-182, lead singer Stephen Christian said, "It's our last chance for a while [to be in New England]. We're going to be on international tour and be recording a lot next year. We're glad to be able to swing by the neighborhood, and we really enjoy playing at colleges."

Anberlin's performance topped off a long line of bands and acts that had been performing from noon to four that afternoon. Some groups were the university's own, like a cappella groups, and some were bands from off campus, with or without UConn students playing in them.

SUBOG set up the "Our Campus is the Cure" concert as the closing event to the past Suicide Prevention Week. Aside from the many groups performing music, the concert featured a large sampling of organizations, both on-campus and national, that are dedicated to raising awareness for many different causes. More than 20 organizations were present, including To Write Love on Her Arms, March of Dimes, Engineers Without Borders, Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow and Face AIDS. These groups were invited by SUBOG Concert Chair Kathleen Solernau to come on stage between bands to promote their causes to the crowd. "The whole point of this event is to bring awareness to these causes and bring great music too," she said.

Cometa, an alternative metal band out of Orange, Conn., kicked off the concert at noon. Their songs were all aggressive and up-tempo with screaming, growling vocals, and plenty of emotion. Sparse attendance at the start didn't deter them from giving a good performance. Too Tall Grizzly from Naugatuck, Conn., followed a half-hour later. This screamo and metal band was characterised by a very energetic stage presence and heavy, grunge-like songs that were composed of distinct sections marked by large tempo changes.

Look West, from Hartford came next, breaking the screamo trend and bringing some alternative rock to the scene. Their sound was more riff-based and akin to the Foo Fighters in certain songs. By the time the Labbadia Sisters took the stage at 1:30, attendance had surged to around 50 people. This 20- and 17-year old sister singing duo from New York City showed up on stage with a heavy pop-rock sound, something between the Wilson sisters of Heart fame and Tom Petty.

The Keystone Effect, from Mansfield and well-known on campus, took the mood back to the 1960s and 1970s with their Hendrix-inspired brand of classic rock and blues. The lead singer evoked the vocals of Eddie Vedder with the intensity in his performance. Providence, R.I. was the home of the next band, alternative rock group the Coming Weak. Their songs showed many influences from rock to nu-metal and even a tad of grunge in some places. Signal the Escape, hailing from New Haven was the last band to play, featuring songs with a conventional rock feel and emphasis on dual vocal harmonies.

In between the bands, UConn a cappella groups A Minor, Extreme Measures and the Chordials entertained the crowd. By the time they took the stage, around 100 people had flocked to the Student Union for the concert.

Though the myriad of talented groups elicited delight from the crowd, Anberlin left the biggest impressions on the concert goers by far.

The band played "True Faith" on a whim after an audience member shouted it out. "I was so surprised, they pulled that one out of nowhere," said Katie Miciak, a 5th-semester biology major. "It was practically improv, and it sounded great!"

"It was an awesome concert," said Aaron Nelson, a 3rd-semester math major. "The groups were all great and I can't wait to go to more of these [shows]."

SUBOG will be hosting a free Country Show at the Student Union featuring the Carter Twins and Natalie Stovall on Saturday, Oct. 10, and will be bringing Third Eye Blind to the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, Oct. 24.