It’s the end of an era for now. After two decades in the lineup of storied Florida emo-punk export Anberlin, Stephen Christian is taking a hiatus to spend more time with his family. Memphis May Fire’s Matty Mullins will take his place starting next year, but last Friday, Christian played his final show alongside Anberlin bandmates who took over The Ritz in Ybor City where Lakeland-native Aaron Marsh of Copeland, and Hawthorne Heights, opened the show.

Aaron Marsh plays The Ritz in Ybor City, Florida on Dec. 15, 2023. Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Anberlin plays The Ritz in Ybor City, Florida on Dec. 15, 2023. Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Anberlin plays The Ritz in Ybor City, Florida on Dec. 15, 2023. Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Hawthorne Heights plays The Ritz in Ybor City, Florida on Dec. 15, 2023. Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler
Credit: Photo by Todd Fixler

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...