well done Brian Fallon Gaslight Anthem

pnoone320

Joe strummer

Kathi

I really like the first part of his post, about the change and development of bands.

I can also understand that he doesn't want to be constantly compared anymore, and I never had the impression gaslight did that many covers (not for their live shows anyway, more for radio sessions etc). not a big fan of constant request yelling either, worst experience for that were the EV solo gigs last year.
"play blooooood"

PhillyCrownOfThorns

MagnumPJ wrote:

Was at the show last night and there wasn't a rampant "bruce" chant, more so a section up front. Despite quite the unfavorable weather it was a favorable crowd - as it usually is for their shows.

Having seen them a bunch of times and read/seen many interviews with them, it is inevitable that they get asked about bruce almost every time. Now Bruce has played with them and they have dropped little bruce tributes throughout their music in the past, but it has to be brutal even it perhaps was their own doing in the beginning. And if they weren't from the same neck of the woods in NJ as the Boss then none of this would have ever continued to play on the way it has. But it has, and I think he was also addressing that it is a band, not just him. They view themselves as a band, each of whom has different tastes and inspirations. Must be maddening at this point.

Unfortunate the way things turned out last night. Stepping out of the spotlight as he suggests is probably best, as it is could distance themselves from the ominous "B" word. And I'm a huge Bruce fan.

Also, huge Hold Steady fan...last night's opener..check them out.

Very well said... I had a few friends who were there last night and had a similar take on the situation.

One question...still don't understand why he closed the show with Baba?

gus stills

I'm the same age as Brian Fallon. Don't know him, but I get the sense we grew up listening to a lot of the same bands. They (not just he, but the band) have always worn their influences on their sleeve. I think that's one of the more charming things about the band. (That, and Brian's engaging the crowd with stories, movie quotes, etc. You never quite know what he's going to say at a show.) Total respect for that, and the maturation of the band's sound over the last few albums. '59 Sound was my introduction to them a few years ago, and I've been following ever since. I think he's earned the right to let what he plays--and not what others want him to play--define who he is as a musician. His tumblr post was honest as hell, and to just throw him under the bus because he got angry at a crowd that was trying to pigeonhole their sound into what it once was, kind of, but not really, before it developed to where it is today? That's lame.

Anyone remember shoes for my friends? We assholes don't always respect the bands we find ourselves identifying with. Don't know why, but I see it at every show I go too. It's a shame. Art is a process, and it's collaborative between the artist and the audience. When one or the other turns, it just destroys that synergy. Sorry to see it happening to Brian and GA. I've seen them a half dozen times, and chatted with them a couple times, and they all seem like really earnest, down to earth guys. Hope they work through this and keep rocking.

fox_mulderX

The Gaslight Anthem is a band that's slowly growing on me. You can definitely hear Springsteen and Social Distortion in their music/lyrics.
I've been listening to The '59 Sound (I think that's the name) a lot lately and I really like it. Any big GA fans here that can recommend another album of theirs?

hamma

fox_mulderX wrote:

The Gaslight Anthem is a band that's slowly growing on me. You can definitely hear Springsteen and Social Distortion in their music/lyrics.
I've been listening to The '59 Sound (I think that's the name) a lot lately and I really like it. Any big GA fans here that can recommend another album of theirs?

All of their albums are good. Sink or swim and the señor and queen ep are little more punky with great hooks. American slang is good but not as cohesive as 59 sound. The newest one is great in my opinion. 45 hcym Mae black dahlia. Really good and different than the 59 sound. Like someone above said they wear their influences on their sleeves but in a good way. I've been a big fan ever since I fist heard them. They sound like guys who grew up listening to pearl jam , bouncing souls Tom waits and rancid. In a lot of the interviews and message boards I feel like people try to make Brian out to be this eras Eddie or Bruce instead of just letting him be himself.

dottles

PhillyCrownOfThorns wrote:

One question...still don't understand why he closed the show with Baba?

They often close or near close with Baba, that's not unusual for them.
Live they don't do huge amounts of covers in my experience.

I read the blog by Brian. It struck me that this is a chap who has let things build up and there's been the straw that broke the camels back so to speak. I think Brian has been in a bit on odd place anyway of late, he used to use twitter (really interactive, I've had conversations with him on there) and write the TGA blogs etc but then recently that all vanised (TGA (admin I guess) then blogged to say they'd wrestled the password back from Brian and would be maintaining the site themeselves. There was a blog site he set up for his new solo stuff, which he was at pains to say wasn't Horrible Crowes music, and was more 'Americana'.

We shall see, I expect he's reading this thread going - I just lost my rag!

FrankieG

fox_mulderX wrote:

The Gaslight Anthem is a band that's slowly growing on me. You can definitely hear Springsteen and Social Distortion in their music/lyrics.
I've been listening to The '59 Sound (I think that's the name) a lot lately and I really like it. Any big GA fans here that can recommend another album of theirs?

In the order that I love them:

59 Sound
Sink or Swim
Senor and the Queen (EP) (4 songs)
Handwritten
American Slang

No Coder

FrankieG wrote:

fox_mulderX wrote:

The Gaslight Anthem is a band that's slowly growing on me. You can definitely hear Springsteen and Social Distortion in their music/lyrics.
I've been listening to The '59 Sound (I think that's the name) a lot lately and I really like it. Any big GA fans here that can recommend another album of theirs?

In the order that I love them:

59 Sound
Sink or Swim
Senor and the Queen (EP) (4 songs)
Handwritten
American Slang

I started with 59 Sound, then bought Senor and the Queen. American Slang came out not long after and whilst I loved it initially, it has moved to my least favourite - still has some great songs, but as someone else said, it's less cohesive.
I finally got around to getting Sink or Swim a few years ago, and I would have to say that it is my favourite. I like the less produced sound on it and Red at Night would be my favourite song. Handwritten is a great album also, but has 1 or 2 songs that after a few listens, I get sick of.

The Akkus

Being a singer in a band and a long time musician, I kinda feel him, but if people are at the show yelling for you to cover SOLAT, cover the song and dont get mad or just ignore the request. I mean, honestly, I would have never gave this band a chance if it was not for the Pearl Jam connection, and they need to embrace that fact. It has done wonders for MMJ.