Live Review

The Gaslight Anthem – O2 Academy, Glasgow

• 20th Oct 2012

New Jersey rockers The Gaslight Anthem delivered a typically high energy and high quality performance in Glasgow last night. A capacity crowd welcomed them back to the city and were well entertained by a band on the top of its form. The trademark mix of Jersey Shore rock and old school punk was there for all to see in a fine night of music.

Dave Hause from Philadelphia was first on stage, an early start meaning that the vast hall was still filling up as he played. Hause has a strong rock voice and played solo over riff heavy guitar. He switched to an acoustic for several more melodic songs, including Only Time Will tell, which was the highlight of his set. Hause made reference to his always getting a good reception from English crowds, which did not go down at all well, but he survived the moment with humour.

Blood Red Shoes gave a strong performance full of vibrancy. The Brighton duo – Laura-Mary Carter on guitar and vocals and Steven Ansell on drums and vocals – have an unusual set up. But they play well off each other, especially when trading vocals and have a dynamic sound. Past single Lost Kids, an angry song with a massive chorus was great, as was Cold, which has simple lyrics but a lot of drive and great harmonies. The crowd responded well to a good set.

The Gaslight Anthem strolled onto the stage confidently, picked up their instruments and began to play. It is no hyperbole to suggest that they are one of the finest live rock bands around, and the ninety minute set proved just that. The songs came largely from new album Handwritten, with all but a couple of tracks played, but there were plenty of old favourites from past releases on show too.

The opener was not perhaps an obvious one, the bitter sweet Mae starting things off on a melodic note before the pace was picked up by the anthemic power of The ’59 Sound and Howl from the new album. Front man Brian Fallon on guitar and vocals clearly loves the stage and played with a grin on his face for much of the night. His partner from the Horrible Crowes side project Ian Perkins added a third guitar to the line up, sticking mainly to rhythm and leaving Alex Rosamilia free to pick out the melodies and add some stunning solos.

I had wondered about the need for yet more power in the band, but the three guitarists combined well, and Fallon’s voice was easily strong enough to come clearly through the mix. The rhythm section was terrific too, drummer Benny Horowitz a blur at the back as he pounded the kit in tremendous style, working well with powerful bassist Alex Levine.

New songs Here Comes My Man and the album’s title track Handwritten followed in fine fashion, a forest of fists held high pumping along to the music, after a hello from Fallon. He commented on merits of a slower song as an opener and the skill of putting a set list together before getting back to the music. He doesn’t speak to the crowd too often, preferring to let the music speak for him, but Fallon can be funny and engaging when he wants to.

The mix of old songs and new continued with crowd favourite Even Cowgirls Get The Blues and a long version of Angry Johnny and The Radio, featuring a bluesy introduction, played along with Biloxi Parish and the anthemic single 45 from the recent album.

Highlights from the Handwritten songs included Mulholland Drive with an incendiary solo from Rosamilia, the strong Too Much Blood and a passionate rendition of Keepsake, the very personal lyrics sung with great emotion by Brian Fallon. And of the older favourites, Great Expectations was a tremendous set closer.

There simply had to be an encore and the band were quickly back on stage. She Loves You was well received as was a fine cover of Dylan’s Changing Of The Guards. The night ended with a superb version of the epic track The Backseat, delivered with as much energy and passion as the band had shown at the start of the set. With one final wave Fallon was last to leave the stage, the thunderous applause ringing in his ears.

This was, quite simply, a great performance from a fine rock band. The many new tracks played stood up well alongside the old favourites and the level of performance was first class all night long. Brian Fallon has developed into a fine band leader, passionate and commanding in centre stage and he has a very good supporting cast around him. The Gaslight Anthem’s reputation continues to grow, and many on this side of the Atlantic have now been added to the legion of fans.