Anberlin, Broadside, Stormy Lou @ The Gov 23/2/2026
It might of been a school night but any reason to catch some bands at The Gov is a good enough reason for me. The first of the Emo Extravaganza side shows hit Adelaide with Anberlin, Broadside and Adelaide’s very own Stormy Lou representing. It was a strongly parochial and passionate crowd who were there to see their much loved Anberlin and whilst it wasn’t a sell out this time they more than matched it with energy, passion and noise.
Anberlin were last here in 2024 playing the same venue. With singer Stephen Christian announcing an indefinite hiatus from touring there has been a changing of the guard with the front man responsibilities being picked up Matty Mullins (Memphis May Fire). Mullins has who is proving to be one of the most versatile singer/ front men going round. What he brings is plenty of muscle and a perfect addition to Anberlin 2026. I enjoyed this show a lot and more than I ever anticipated walking the hallowed turf at The Gov.
Flying the Adelaide flag proudly is Stormy Lou and having seen them a couple of times now it is hard not to be swept up by their youthful enthusiasm and their infectious stage presence. It was smiles all round watching them go through their paces and more than deserving playing on a much bigger stage at The Gov. Big improvers and their best is still to come.
Pop rockers Broadside from Richmond, Virginia played a lively set getting a building crowd moving. They have plenty of tricks in the kit bag and their genuine authenticity in the music is so relatable to fans of all ages, even me and I’m old! There is plenty of lyrical depth with some of the topics they sing about that are more than relevant now than they ever have been before. Opening with I Think They Know and Heavenly their set mostly focused on albums Into The Raging Sea (2020) and Hotel Bleu (2023). Singer Oliver Baxxter even acknowledged that this was not their crowd and still appreciated everyone for coming out early to see them then trying to navigate the nuances of Tik Tok. New song Warning Signs was great but set favourites for me included the likes of Coffee Talk, Dazed & Confused and set closer Foolish Believer.
The Gov was a wash of red light as Anberlin took the stage and was an aesthetic right through. It was an excitable crowd who were as equally intrigued about how new singer Matty Mullins will go fronting the band. Good news! He did a stellar job and no doubt a tough assignment taking on their second album Never Take Friendship Personal which was celebrating its twentieth anniversary. Right from the get go of the title track to Paperthin Hymn to Stationary Stationery the band were in rampaging form. Mullins took a moment to reflect on this album and how “it changed my life and the shape of my life” and how important it was to “celebrate four wonderful human beings”.
Following the sequence of the album there were no real surprises with the set list but the impact and importance of this album is evident when played as a whole. A Day Late, Runaways, Time & Confusion would all feature in the highlights reel. Mullins said that is a dream for any American band to this land let alone share and play music here. The crowd loved The Feel Good Drag and their response was awesome. Dance, Dance Christa Päffgen seemed well timed and placed to finish the main set.
The encore kicked things up a notch with The Resistance followed by High Stakes which was discovered rifling through boxes of demo tapes. Impossible and Godspeed were great moments but the special one, the clincher, was a song aptly titled Adelaide from the Cities reaffirming that bond between Anberlin and our city being the first place they played on their very first tour. Great show and we look forward to new music from Anberlin.
Live Review By Rob Lyon