A beautiful spring evening set the tone for a night packed with nostalgia as Anberlin, Emery, and Watashi Wa brought the Never Take Friendship Personal Tour to Capital City Music Hall in Harrisburg.
The intimate venue provided the perfect setting for a lineup rooted in the early 2000s emo and alternative scene. Tucked into the city with its bar-style layout and upstairs viewing area overlooking the stage, Capital City Music Hall offered fans an opportunity to experience the bands up close rather than from the distance of a larger arena. The room quickly filled throughout the evening, becoming noticeably crowded by the time Emery took the stage.
What stood out most before the music even began was the crowd itself. Fans arrived wearing “Emo Is Not Dead” shirts, many accompanied by longtime friends, spouses, and even children. For some, it felt like revisiting a soundtrack that helped define their youth. For others, it was a chance to share those memories with the next generation.
Opening the evening was Watashi Wa, whose mellow alternative sound provided a relaxed start to the night. Their music carried hints of both 90s alternative rock and early 2000s emo, built around clean guitar work, melodic vocals, and an overall laid-back atmosphere. Frontman Seth Roberts brought plenty of movement to the stage despite the band’s more restrained musical approach. While their set wasn’t designed to inspire circle pits or chaos, the audience responded warmly through applause, head nods, and steady engagement throughout. Their performance felt reflective and easygoing, creating a nice contrast before the heavier acts later in the evening.
Emery raised the energy considerably as they took the stage under deep blue lighting that washed over the venue. The band’s sound leaned further into the heavier side of emo and alternative rock, combining driving guitar work with dynamic rhythms and emotionally charged vocals. Their songs seemed built for crowd participation, and the audience happily obliged, singing along throughout much of the set.
What made Emery particularly engaging live was the balance between melody and intensity. The guitars carried enough weight to keep the room moving, while memorable choruses gave fans plenty of opportunities to join in. The interaction between the band and crowd created a sense of connection that felt genuine rather than rehearsed. As the room grew increasingly packed, so did the volume of the audience, turning many songs into shared experiences between band and fans.
By the time Anberlin took the stage, Capital City Music Hall had transformed into a room full of voices waiting to sing every word back.
With Matty Mullins handling vocal duties, Anberlin delivered a high-energy set that celebrated both the band’s legacy and the enthusiasm of its fanbase. Green and dark blue lighting filled the room as the band launched into a collection of songs that showcased the melodic hooks and driving energy that helped make them staples of the emo and alternative scene.
Anberlin’s music has always thrived on balancing emotion with momentum, and that translated perfectly live. Sharp guitar lines, soaring choruses, and rhythmic urgency gave each song a sense of movement that kept the crowd fully engaged. At several points, fans could be heard singing nearly as loudly as the band itself, creating one of the evening’s most memorable moments.
Mullins brought constant energy to the stage, feeding off the crowd’s enthusiasm while encouraging participation throughout the set. The connection between the band and audience never wavered, making the performance feel less like a concert and more like a celebration of music that continues to resonate years after it was first released.
By the end of the evening, the Never Take Friendship Personal Tour felt less like a trip down memory lane and more like proof that these songs still matter. The crowd may have grown older, but judging by the voices echoing throughout Capital City Music Hall, the passion behind the music remains exactly where it has always been.
GALLERY: Anberlin at Capital City Music Hall in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (May 31, 2026)
