The Gaslight Anthem
Encyclopedia
The Gaslight Anthem is an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey
, consisting of Brian Fallon
(lead vocals, guitar
), Alex Rosamilia
(guitar, backing vocals), Alex Levine (bass guitar
, backing vocals) and Benny Horowitz (drums, percussion). They released their first album, Sink or Swim
, on XOXO Records in May 2007, and their second album, The '59 Sound
, on SideOneDummy Records
in August 2008. The band's third album, American Slang
, was released on June 15, 2010.
was well received by both independent music review sites such as punknews.org
, AbsolutePunk.net
, and more mainstream publications such as Spin.com
.
A 4-song EP titled Señor and the Queen
was released on February 5, 2008 through Sabot Productions. A double-7" vinyl version of the EP was also released on standard black vinyl, as well as limited edition pressings on clear vinyl, red vinyl (500 copies), and white vinyl (100 copies).
, was released on August 19, 2008 through SideOneDummy Records
. The record was produced by Ted Hutt
and features Hot Water Music
's Chris Wollard and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones's Dicky Barrett
as guests. The album was voted the #1 album of 2008 by eMusic
, and received a high rating from Pitchfork Media
.
The title of the first song on the album named Great Expectations
makes reference to the character Estella of the Charles Dickens' book.
In 2008, the band covered "God's Gonna Cut You Down
" for the Johnny Cash
tribute album All Aboard! A Tribute to Johnny Cash. In 2009, the band's song "I'da Called You Woody, Joe" was featured as part of the soundtrack of the video game Skate 2
and Skate It
. The band sometimes covers Tom Petty
's "American Girl
" and "Refugee" live.
In 2009, The Gaslight Anthem supported Social Distortion
on their European tour and was announced as a support act for Bruce Springsteen
at Hyde Park Calling.
At Glastonbury Festival
on June 27, 2009, Bruce Springsteen joined the band on stage during their performance of "The '59 Sound
." Brian Fallon later contributed to Springsteen's headlining set, performing the song "No Surrender
." At London
's Hard Rock Calling
festival on June 28, the band was again joined by Springsteen on stage and again performed "The '59 Sound." As with Glastonbury, Fallon contributed to Springsteen's headlining set and joined him in singing "No Surrender".
On August 6, 2008 the band made British music history becoming the first band to ever appear on the cover of Kerrang!
magazine without the magazine having previously written about them. Kerrang! called them "The best new band you'll hear in 2008." In addition, the band has received airplay on BBC6 Music, and embarked on a UK & European tour in November. In August 2009, The Gaslight Anthem won the 2009 Kerrang! Award for "Best International Newcomer".
On August 7, 2009, The Gaslight Anthem performed at Lollapalooza
in Chicago, and played at Pinkpop
on June 1, 2009.
The band performed at the UK's Reading and Leeds Festivals
in late August, and has finished an extensive North American headline tour set for September and October. Murder By Death
, Frank Turner
, The Loved Ones
, Jesse Malin
, The Measure (SA), and Ninja Gun performed in the support slots on this tour.
The band's new album, titled American Slang
, was released on June 14, 2010 in the UK and June 15, 2010 in the USA http://www2.kerrang.com/2010/01/the_gaslight_anthem_name_new_a.html. According to frontman Brian Fallon, the songwriting on the new album is different than on the band's previous efforts. He names the Stones, Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton and Derek and the Dominoes as influences.
In addition to 5 UK dates, the band have been confirmed to play at festivals including Bonnaroo Festival, The Austin City Limits Music Festival
, Southside Festival
, Hurricane Festival
, Hard Rock Calling
, Rock Werchter
, The Guernsey Festival of Performing Arts, A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise
, Reading and Leeds Festivals
and Øyafestivalen
.
Details of North American tour dates were announced on April 27, 2010 on a new website for American Slang.
The Gaslight Anthem toured the UK and Europe at the end of 2010 with support from Chuck Ragan
and Sharks. They performed two songs from American Slang on Episode 6, Series 37 of Later... with Jools Holland, originally broadcast in the UK on 22 October 2010.
On his blog, Fallon stated the band would start writing their record in January 2011. However, prior to playing on Pinkpop
in June 2011, Fallon stated that they've just started working on the new album and that it won't be released for at least a few months. In the same interview Fallon said only one song was finished so far, referencing to "Biloxi Parish" which they performed on stage at Pinkpop 2011. Fallon stated that the band's next record will sound closer to their breakthrough record, The '59 Sound
, rather than American Slang
. During this time, Fallon will also be working with good friend, Ian Perkins putting the finishing touches on their side project, The Horrible Crowes.
The Gaslight Anthem are scheduled to play this year's Download Festival. and at this year's Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
On October 6th, 2011; The Gaslight Anthem announced via Facebook that they have officially signed with Mercury Records. They stated that they were sorry to leave their friends at Side One Dummy, but felt that the change was necessary for their musical career.
On October 14, 2011, The Gaslight Anthem announced that their last show before going into the studio to record their new album would be on December 9th at the Asbury Park Convention Hall.
. Brian Fallon's fondness for Springsteen
, a significant influence on their music, is a fact celebrated by fans and critics alike. However the band claims they never set out to sound like the New Jersey icon. Representative of such views, one critic wrote, "The Gaslight Anthem are like something out of speculative fiction: this is what pop music would be if Springsteen hadn't listened to his producer, let The Ramones record Hungry Heart
, and launched the C.B.G.B.
'ers into megastardom.". Drummer Benny Horowitz and guitarist Alex Rosamilia stated that "We're more Bruce Springsteen appreciators. We didn't start listening to him until we joined the band. I always liked his songs when I heard them, but I wasn't a big fan until I met Brian [Fallon]."
Following the release of their third full-length album, American Slang, Fallon himself said, "There's so much else that we look at for our sound and influences that you don't want to be notched in with one guy," Fallon explains. "There's a lot of things [Springsteen] does that I admire. We come from a lot of the same places but a lot of different places, too. But at the same time, that's a good thing to be compared to. I think it's one of those things we're gonna have to wear until it wears out." Of the Springsteen comparisons, Rosamilia also added, "I think there's enough out there on the Internet about that already."
Joe Strummer
has often been spoken about and referenced by lead singer Brian Fallon and the song "I'da Called You Woody, Joe," is a tribute to the legendary Clash frontman. Fallon has a tattoo of Strummer. As stated in multiple interviews with members of the band, there is an influence of the motown genre. This influence was exemplified and magnified on the album The '59 Sound.
Brian Fallon has stated several times that without The Replacements there would be no Gaslight Anthem, as they are heavily influenced by them, especially their song 'Left of the Dial'.
Touring member
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
, consisting of Brian Fallon
Brian Fallon
Brian Fallon is an American musician. Fallon is one of the founding members of the band The Gaslight Anthem. He plays guitar and provides lead vocals for the band. He is currently working on a side project called The Horrible Crowes....
(lead vocals, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Alex Rosamilia
Alex Rosamilia
Alex Rosamilia is an American musician. Rosamilia is one of the founding members of the band The Gaslight Anthem. He plays lead guitar and provides backing vocals for the band.-Biography, Early Career and Side Projects:...
(guitar, backing vocals), Alex Levine (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals) and Benny Horowitz (drums, percussion). They released their first album, Sink or Swim
Sink or Swim (Gaslight Anthem album)
Sink or Swim is the debut studio album by The Gaslight Anthem, released May 29, 2007 through XOXO Records.-Track listing:# "Boomboxes and Dictionaries" – 3:11...
, on XOXO Records in May 2007, and their second album, The '59 Sound
The '59 Sound
The '59 Sound is the second studio album by The Gaslight Anthem, released on August 19, 2008 on SideOneDummy Records.In December 2008, eMusic named The '59 Sound the best album of 2008. NME rated it as the 47th best album of the year...
, on SideOneDummy Records
SideOneDummy Records
SideOneDummy Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label whose roster focuses mostly on punk and related genres. Founded in 1995 by Joe Sib and Bill Armstrong, who continue to run it today, the label has built a reputation for its diverse roster of artists ranging from third wave ska...
in August 2008. The band's third album, American Slang
American Slang
American Slang is the third studio album by New Jersey based rock group The Gaslight Anthem. It was released on June 15, 2010 on SideOneDummy Records, which released their previous album, The '59 Sound. The album was produced by The '59 Sound producer Ted Hutt.-Writing:Fallon stated in an NYC...
, was released on June 15, 2010.
Sink or Swim (2007–2008)
The Gaslight Anthem's full length debut Sink or SwimSink or Swim (Gaslight Anthem album)
Sink or Swim is the debut studio album by The Gaslight Anthem, released May 29, 2007 through XOXO Records.-Track listing:# "Boomboxes and Dictionaries" – 3:11...
was well received by both independent music review sites such as punknews.org
Punknews.org
Punknews.org is a website founded by Aubin Paul which launched in 1999. The website publishes music news and album reviews relating to punk rock, hardcore punk, ska, indie rock and heavy metal...
, AbsolutePunk.net
AbsolutePunk.net
AbsolutePunk is a website, online community, and alternative music news source founded by Jason Tate . The website mainly focuses on artists who are relatively unknown to mainstream audiences, but it has been known to feature artists who have eventually achieved crossover success, including Fall...
, and more mainstream publications such as Spin.com
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
.
A 4-song EP titled Señor and the Queen
Señor and the Queen
Señor and the Queen is an EP by The Gaslight Anthem.The EP consists of 4 songs and was released in early 2008 by Sabot Productions.It was released simultaneously on vinyl, with the double-7" white and double-7" red editions being the most sought after.-Track listing:# "Señor and the Queen" –...
was released on February 5, 2008 through Sabot Productions. A double-7" vinyl version of the EP was also released on standard black vinyl, as well as limited edition pressings on clear vinyl, red vinyl (500 copies), and white vinyl (100 copies).
The '59 Sound (2008–2009)
The band's second full-length album, The '59 SoundThe '59 Sound
The '59 Sound is the second studio album by The Gaslight Anthem, released on August 19, 2008 on SideOneDummy Records.In December 2008, eMusic named The '59 Sound the best album of 2008. NME rated it as the 47th best album of the year...
, was released on August 19, 2008 through SideOneDummy Records
SideOneDummy Records
SideOneDummy Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label whose roster focuses mostly on punk and related genres. Founded in 1995 by Joe Sib and Bill Armstrong, who continue to run it today, the label has built a reputation for its diverse roster of artists ranging from third wave ska...
. The record was produced by Ted Hutt
Ted Hutt
Ted Hutt is a British music producer, musician, and song writer residing in Los Angeles, CA. He was the original guitar player and one of the founding members for Flogging Molly...
and features Hot Water Music
Hot Water Music
Hot Water Music is a punk rock band from Gainesville, Florida. The members of the band are Chuck Ragan, Chris Wollard, Jason Black, and George Rebelo. HWM first formed in 1993...
's Chris Wollard and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones's Dicky Barrett
Dicky Barrett
Richard Michael Barrett , better known as Dicky Barrett, is the frontman of Ska punk band The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and the announcer for Jimmy Kimmel Live...
as guests. The album was voted the #1 album of 2008 by eMusic
EMusic
eMusic is an online music and audiobook store that operates by subscription. It is headquartered in New York City with an office in London and owned by Dimensional Associates. As of September 2008 eMusic has over 400,000 subscribers....
, and received a high rating from Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
.
The title of the first song on the album named Great Expectations
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is a novel by Charles Dickens. It was first published in serial form in the publication All the Year Round from 1 December 1860 to August 1861. It has been adapted for stage and screen over 250 times....
makes reference to the character Estella of the Charles Dickens' book.
In 2008, the band covered "God's Gonna Cut You Down
God's Gonna Cut You Down
"God's Gonna Cut You Down", also known as "Run On" and "Run On for a Long Time", is a traditional folk song which has been recorded by numerous artists representing a variety of genres...
" for the Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
tribute album All Aboard! A Tribute to Johnny Cash. In 2009, the band's song "I'da Called You Woody, Joe" was featured as part of the soundtrack of the video game Skate 2
Skate 2
Skate 2 is a sandbox skateboarding video game developed by EA Black Box and distributed by Electronic Arts as a sequel to the 2007 game, Skate. Skate 2 was released in January 2009 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.-Plot:...
and Skate It
Skate It
Skate It is a skateboarding video game developed by EA Montreal, Exient Entertainment and EA Black Box for the Nintendo DS, Wii, and iOS. The game is a spin-off of 2007's Skate, and the developers have stated that it is not a port or sequel but rather an original game. It was released on November...
. The band sometimes covers Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
's "American Girl
American Girl (song)
"American Girl" is the second single from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' self-titled debut album. The single did not chart in the U.S., but in the UK it peaked at #40 the week ending August 27, 1977...
" and "Refugee" live.
In 2009, The Gaslight Anthem supported Social Distortion
Social Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
on their European tour and was announced as a support act for Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
at Hyde Park Calling.
At Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
on June 27, 2009, Bruce Springsteen joined the band on stage during their performance of "The '59 Sound
The '59 Sound (song)
"The '59 Sound" is a 2008 song by American rock band The Gaslight Anthem. Written by the band and produced by Ted Hutt, it is the title track of the band's second full-length album. Released as the album's lead single, the song reached the U.S. Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in early 2009...
." Brian Fallon later contributed to Springsteen's headlining set, performing the song "No Surrender
No Surrender (song)
"No Surrender" is a song from Bruce Springsteen's album Born in the U.S.A. A high-tempo rocker, it was only included on the album at the insistence of Steven Van Zandt, but has since become a concert staple for Springsteen, usually in a low-key, acoustic arrangement...
." At London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Hard Rock Calling
Hard Rock Calling
Hard Rock Calling is an annual music festival held in Hyde Park, London, which first took place on Saturday July 1 and Sunday July 2, 2006. The music played is primarily rock music, and various performers, including Bon Jovi, The Who, Aerosmith, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen have played at the...
festival on June 28, the band was again joined by Springsteen on stage and again performed "The '59 Sound." As with Glastonbury, Fallon contributed to Springsteen's headlining set and joined him in singing "No Surrender".
On August 6, 2008 the band made British music history becoming the first band to ever appear on the cover of Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
magazine without the magazine having previously written about them. Kerrang! called them "The best new band you'll hear in 2008." In addition, the band has received airplay on BBC6 Music, and embarked on a UK & European tour in November. In August 2009, The Gaslight Anthem won the 2009 Kerrang! Award for "Best International Newcomer".
On August 7, 2009, The Gaslight Anthem performed at Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
in Chicago, and played at Pinkpop
Pinkpop
Pinkpop Festival, or Pinkpop for short, is an annual festival held at Landgraaf, Netherlands. It is held annually on the Pentecost weekend...
on June 1, 2009.
The band performed at the UK's Reading and Leeds Festivals
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
in late August, and has finished an extensive North American headline tour set for September and October. Murder By Death
Murder by Death
Murder by Death is a 1976 comedy film with a cast featuring Eileen Brennan, Truman Capote, James Coco, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Elsa Lanchester, David Niven, Peter Sellers, Maggie Smith, Nancy Walker, and Estelle Winwood, written by Neil Simon and directed by Robert Moore.The plot is a spoof of...
, Frank Turner
Frank Turner
Frank Turner is an English folk/punk singer-songwriter from Meonstoke, Winchester. Initially the vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead, Turner embarked upon a primarily acoustic-based solo career following the band's split in 2005. To date, Turner has released four solo albums, two rarities...
, The Loved Ones
The Loved Ones (American band)
The Loved Ones is a punk band based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in late 2003, the band currently consists of Dave Hause , David Walsh , Chris Gonzalez , and Mike Sneeringer...
, Jesse Malin
Jesse Malin
Jesse Malin is a rock musician. He has played with Heart Attack and D Generation. He is currently a solo recording artist.-Biography:...
, The Measure (SA), and Ninja Gun performed in the support slots on this tour.
American Slang (2010)
The Gaslight Anthem entered the studio once again with producer Ted Hutt to record their second album for SideOneDummy Records.The band's new album, titled American Slang
American Slang
American Slang is the third studio album by New Jersey based rock group The Gaslight Anthem. It was released on June 15, 2010 on SideOneDummy Records, which released their previous album, The '59 Sound. The album was produced by The '59 Sound producer Ted Hutt.-Writing:Fallon stated in an NYC...
, was released on June 14, 2010 in the UK and June 15, 2010 in the USA http://www2.kerrang.com/2010/01/the_gaslight_anthem_name_new_a.html. According to frontman Brian Fallon, the songwriting on the new album is different than on the band's previous efforts. He names the Stones, Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton and Derek and the Dominoes as influences.
In addition to 5 UK dates, the band have been confirmed to play at festivals including Bonnaroo Festival, The Austin City Limits Music Festival
Austin City Limits Music Festival
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual three-day American music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas at the city's central public park, Zilker Park...
, Southside Festival
Southside Festival
The Southside Festival, also just Southside, is a music festival that takes place near Tuttlingen, southern Germany, usually every June. It is promoted by German private music television channel VIVA, which belongs to Viacom, the MTV Network's parent company, since the end of 2004...
, Hurricane Festival
Hurricane Festival
The Hurricane Festival, also just Hurricane, is a music festival that takes place in Scheeßel near Bremen, Germany, usually every June. It is promoted by German private music television channel VIVA, which belongs to Viacom, the MTV Network's parent company, as of 2004...
, Hard Rock Calling
Hard Rock Calling
Hard Rock Calling is an annual music festival held in Hyde Park, London, which first took place on Saturday July 1 and Sunday July 2, 2006. The music played is primarily rock music, and various performers, including Bon Jovi, The Who, Aerosmith, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen have played at the...
, Rock Werchter
Rock Werchter
Rock Werchter is a Belgian annual music festival held in the village of Werchter, near Leuven, since 1974. It is one of the five biggest annual rock music festivals in Europe...
, The Guernsey Festival of Performing Arts, A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise
A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise
A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise, also known as simply Lowlands, is a music festival, held annually in the Netherlands in August. Lowlands has about 55,000 visitors, over 200 acts and more than ten stages every year which are named according to the NATO phonetic alphabet apart from the Grolsch...
, Reading and Leeds Festivals
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
and Øyafestivalen
Øyafestivalen
Øyafestivalen is an annual Norwegian music festival held in Middelalderparken , Oslo. It has grown quickly since its modest start in 1999 with an audience of 1000 people in one day, and has now become one of Norway's biggest festivals....
.
Details of North American tour dates were announced on April 27, 2010 on a new website for American Slang.
The Gaslight Anthem toured the UK and Europe at the end of 2010 with support from Chuck Ragan
Chuck Ragan
Chuck Ragan is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. From 1993 until 2006 he was one of the lead singers for Gainesville, Florida-based punk rock band Hot Water Music...
and Sharks. They performed two songs from American Slang on Episode 6, Series 37 of Later... with Jools Holland, originally broadcast in the UK on 22 October 2010.
Untitled album (2011–present)
As of July 2010, Fallon said he was already working on new material.On his blog, Fallon stated the band would start writing their record in January 2011. However, prior to playing on Pinkpop
Pinkpop
Pinkpop Festival, or Pinkpop for short, is an annual festival held at Landgraaf, Netherlands. It is held annually on the Pentecost weekend...
in June 2011, Fallon stated that they've just started working on the new album and that it won't be released for at least a few months. In the same interview Fallon said only one song was finished so far, referencing to "Biloxi Parish" which they performed on stage at Pinkpop 2011. Fallon stated that the band's next record will sound closer to their breakthrough record, The '59 Sound
The '59 Sound
The '59 Sound is the second studio album by The Gaslight Anthem, released on August 19, 2008 on SideOneDummy Records.In December 2008, eMusic named The '59 Sound the best album of 2008. NME rated it as the 47th best album of the year...
, rather than American Slang
American Slang
American Slang is the third studio album by New Jersey based rock group The Gaslight Anthem. It was released on June 15, 2010 on SideOneDummy Records, which released their previous album, The '59 Sound. The album was produced by The '59 Sound producer Ted Hutt.-Writing:Fallon stated in an NYC...
. During this time, Fallon will also be working with good friend, Ian Perkins putting the finishing touches on their side project, The Horrible Crowes.
The Gaslight Anthem are scheduled to play this year's Download Festival. and at this year's Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
On October 6th, 2011; The Gaslight Anthem announced via Facebook that they have officially signed with Mercury Records. They stated that they were sorry to leave their friends at Side One Dummy, but felt that the change was necessary for their musical career.
On October 14, 2011, The Gaslight Anthem announced that their last show before going into the studio to record their new album would be on December 9th at the Asbury Park Convention Hall.
Description and influences
"[T]he Gaslight Anthem is part of a rich tradition of New Jersey punk, spanning the Misfits to the Bouncing Souls." The Gaslight Anthem's music also embraces many elements of the Jersey Shore soundJersey Shore sound
The Jersey Shore sound is a genre of rock and roll popularized at the Jersey Shore on the Atlantic Ocean coast of New Jersey, United States, that goes by a variety of names or, more often, is defined by its artists...
. Brian Fallon's fondness for Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
, a significant influence on their music, is a fact celebrated by fans and critics alike. However the band claims they never set out to sound like the New Jersey icon. Representative of such views, one critic wrote, "The Gaslight Anthem are like something out of speculative fiction: this is what pop music would be if Springsteen hadn't listened to his producer, let The Ramones record Hungry Heart
Hungry Heart
"Hungry Heart" is a song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen on his fifth album, The River. It was released as the album's first single in 1980 and became Springsteen's first big hit of his own on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.-History:...
, and launched the C.B.G.B.
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
'ers into megastardom.". Drummer Benny Horowitz and guitarist Alex Rosamilia stated that "We're more Bruce Springsteen appreciators. We didn't start listening to him until we joined the band. I always liked his songs when I heard them, but I wasn't a big fan until I met Brian [Fallon]."
Following the release of their third full-length album, American Slang, Fallon himself said, "There's so much else that we look at for our sound and influences that you don't want to be notched in with one guy," Fallon explains. "There's a lot of things [Springsteen] does that I admire. We come from a lot of the same places but a lot of different places, too. But at the same time, that's a good thing to be compared to. I think it's one of those things we're gonna have to wear until it wears out." Of the Springsteen comparisons, Rosamilia also added, "I think there's enough out there on the Internet about that already."
Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
has often been spoken about and referenced by lead singer Brian Fallon and the song "I'da Called You Woody, Joe," is a tribute to the legendary Clash frontman. Fallon has a tattoo of Strummer. As stated in multiple interviews with members of the band, there is an influence of the motown genre. This influence was exemplified and magnified on the album The '59 Sound.
Brian Fallon has stated several times that without The Replacements there would be no Gaslight Anthem, as they are heavily influenced by them, especially their song 'Left of the Dial'.
Band members
- Brian FallonBrian FallonBrian Fallon is an American musician. Fallon is one of the founding members of the band The Gaslight Anthem. He plays guitar and provides lead vocals for the band. He is currently working on a side project called The Horrible Crowes....
- lead vocals, guitar (2005–present) - Alex RosamiliaAlex RosamiliaAlex Rosamilia is an American musician. Rosamilia is one of the founding members of the band The Gaslight Anthem. He plays lead guitar and provides backing vocals for the band.-Biography, Early Career and Side Projects:...
- guitar, backing vocals (2005–present) - Alex Levine - bass, backing vocals (2005–present)
- Benny Horowitz - drums, percussion, tambourine (2005–present)
Touring member
- Ian Perkins - guitar (2010)
Discography
- Sink or SwimSink or Swim (Gaslight Anthem album)Sink or Swim is the debut studio album by The Gaslight Anthem, released May 29, 2007 through XOXO Records.-Track listing:# "Boomboxes and Dictionaries" – 3:11...
(2007) - The '59 SoundThe '59 SoundThe '59 Sound is the second studio album by The Gaslight Anthem, released on August 19, 2008 on SideOneDummy Records.In December 2008, eMusic named The '59 Sound the best album of 2008. NME rated it as the 47th best album of the year...
(2008) - American SlangAmerican SlangAmerican Slang is the third studio album by New Jersey based rock group The Gaslight Anthem. It was released on June 15, 2010 on SideOneDummy Records, which released their previous album, The '59 Sound. The album was produced by The '59 Sound producer Ted Hutt.-Writing:Fallon stated in an NYC...
(2010)
External links
- Official website
- Official Facebook
- Official MySpace
- SideOneDummy (record label)
- Fan Forum: Dimestore Saints
- Fan Site: The Gaslight Anthem Record
- Gaslight Anthem at www.punknews.org
- Recent Review
- July 2010 Cover Story
- Review of American Slang - the single
- The Official Gaslight Anthem Street Team
- Gaslight Anthem Interview on TheWaster.com