Review: Anberlin, Emery & Watashi Wa Bring Nostalgia and Energy to Columbia, SC

On May 28, 2026, I had the opportunity to attend Anberlin, Emery, and Watashi Wa at The Senate in Columbia, South Carolina. I attended the concert with Joshua Gilmore, Joshua Thomas, Joey Noyes, and my son Max. For me, that made the evening even more memorable. Concerts are always about the music, but they are also about the experiences and memories you share with the people around you.

One of the coolest parts of the night was seeing Watashi Wa active again. This was their first tour in a long time, and it was encouraging to see fans still coming out to support them after all these years. The band sounded great and brought a lot of heart to the stage. There was a genuine appreciation from the crowd, almost like everyone understood they were witnessing something special by seeing Watashi Wa back on tour again.

Emery took the stage next and delivered a shorter but extremely energetic set. The highlight came at the very end when they closed with “Walls.” The moment the song started, the crowd erupted. There was more mosh pit action during that one song than during the entire rest of the concert combined. Fans were singing every word while chaos broke out across the floor in the best possible way. Emery continues to prove why they remain one of the most respected bands in the post-hardcore scene.

The headliner for the evening was Anberlin on the Never Take Friendship Personal twentieth anniversary tour. This was my first time ever seeing Anberlin live, and they absolutely did not disappoint. Matty Mullins did a fantastic job fronting the band and is an obvious choice to help fill the big shoes of Stephen Christian. What impressed me most is how versatile Matty is vocally. He has the vocal range needed for a melodic and harmonized band like Anberlin while still being able to front his metalcore band, Memphis May Fire. He brought a lot of energy and respect to the material while still making the performance feel natural and authentic.

As I was standing there during the concert, I started thinking about this particular venue and the memories tied to it. This was the third time I can remember attending a show at The Senate. The first was when Stretch Arm Strong played the twentieth anniversary tour for Rituals of Life. The second was P.O.D.’s twentieth anniversary tour for Satellite. Now the third is Anberlin’s Never Take Friendship Personal twentieth anniversary tour. It is interesting how certain venues become attached to specific moments in life through music.

The atmosphere throughout the night was filled with nostalgia, energy, and appreciation. Many of these bands have been around for decades, yet fans still passionately support them. Nights like this are a reminder that music scenes and communities can last much longer than people expect.

Overall, this was an excellent night of live music. Watashi Wa’s long-awaited return, Emery’s explosive ending with “Walls,” and Anberlin’s anniversary celebration made for a memorable experience and a strong reminder of why these bands still matter to so many fans.