Wednesday 24 October 2012

GIG: THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM


Review by Jon Birch
Photos by John Cooper

The Gaslight Anthem live at the Manchester Apollo - 18.10.2012

I have to start this piece with a confession. I'm an absolute Gaslight nut. Even so, I’ll try and give an unbiased account of an evening with one of the best bands in the world right now (ok, unbiased from the next paragraph!).

I was lucky enough to see the band last time around at The Apollo on the American Slang tour and this set was bigger and bolder. With a larger array of songs at their disposal, the band hammered straight into it and proceeded to play a track from each of their four albums to open the show. These included the fan favourites ’59 Sound and Diamond Church Street Choir which built the atmosphere up nicely and got everyone jumping from the off.

Much has been made of the comparison to Bruce Springsteen but these guys have carved their own sound now, albeit one that owes a debt to the likes of The Boss and Tom Petty. Brian Fallon was on great form and his voice is better than ever live, but its often Alex Rosamilia’s infectious guitar licks that hook you into a song in the first place. The highlight of the set for me was a cover of Bon Iver’s Blood Bank with a Gaslight twist.

A great performance from a band who are just maybe on the brink of something huge.

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