Music Reviews

LIVE: The Gaslight Anthem

Concorde 2, 6th February 2009

New Jersey 4 piece the Gaslight Anthem are not your average modern day band. A full on old school good time rock ‘n’ roll band with a sound that is easily comparable to the man currently sitting on the top of the album charts, Mr. Bruce Springsteen. You won’t find these lads sporting a funny haircut playing a synthesizer, you won’t find Kate Moss at their shows and you certainly won’t find them popping up on “Skins“. They make music how it was meant to be made, from the heart.

So, it is no surprise that tonight’s headline show at the Concorde 2 is sold out. Ex Million Dead lead singer, Frank Turner warms up the crowd with some Billy Bragg-esque acoustic tidings. The crowd react in numbers and by the end of his set he has made a new bunch of friends, you can see why Frank is fast becoming quite the head Turner (Wallop!). The Gaslight Anthem take to the stage and it feels like everybody is here to have a good time. “Great Expectation” kicks off the set and everyone from 15 to 50 is moshing. As the band rip through a ferocious set of balls out rock it is no surprise why they have such a following, it’s almost impossible not to fall for their catchy tales of small town America. Singer, Brian Fallow is a little pocket rocket, both arms covered in tattoos he looks like a real punk, topped off by the jaunty flat cap. He had a huge smile on his face but he seems truly humbled by the reception him and his band are getting.

A mixture of old and new songs fill the set but the biggest cheers are saved for the new material of second album “The 59 Sound”, it lends sounds from everything great to come out of USA, “Old White Lincoln” sounding like fellow countrymen The Hold Steady and “High Lonesom” sounding like The Boss, and “Miles Davis and the Cool” sounding like The Killers when they were good. Things are slowed down momentarily for the beautifully soulful “Here’s looking at you Kids” which showcases the tender wit and charm of Fallow’s lyrics. The Gaslight Anthem are the perfect feel good band, and with the festival season fast approaching they could well be the band to win everyone’s heart and souls this summer.

Words by James Fuller
Photography by Rob Thomas