It's been a moment since we checked in with our longtime buds The 'Graves. Aquarium Drunkard posted a nice piece written by lead singer John Gleason to accompany this Springsteen cover for an upcoming comp Long Distance Salvation.
This is one hell of a song and being from NJ it’s almost sinful to mess with Bruce, but I feel like we did it well and found some room to make the song our own without ruining or playing it too similar to the original.
This video just surfaced over at, where else, but Pitchfork -- a live from Hyde Park in London session. While we tend to shy away from "re-posts," if we can, this was just too good to pass up. It's not so much the song (which is fantastic in its own right), it is more just the face ofGaslight Anthem's Brian Fallon. He just stands there, belting out the second verse of "No Surrender" and it almost brings him to tears. He made it. Standing on stage next to a rock legend such as the Boss is moving in its own right, but Fallon & Co. have gone father then they ever dreamed. We all know the story of the Gaslight Anthem. We know the many opinions, good or bad, but this video can be looked upon as one of the many crowning moments in this frontman and this bands' career. With American Slang, Gaslight's fourth record, just releasing a week ago, Brian Fallon and these gritty Jersey boys are staying afloat, and letting you know they won't ever drown along the way.
Got Nuffin'? Nah, we got somethin' aside from that new EP. Spoon covers! Hot off of some RT's and You Ain't No Picasso... seems there is a nice aggregation of eclectic Spoon covers -- everything from Springsteen's "I'm Going Down" to the Kinks' "Set Me Free" to Wire's "Lowdown." There is some great stuff here. Dig it.
"One thing is for sure, these guys are going to be stars. The Gaslight Anthem has already recaptured the magic of yesteryear and brought it to the new generation – we can only hope that the City of Asbury Park will be able to recapture that same kind of magic."
About a week ago my mother asked me if I would be doing anything special for my birthday with my friends. When I told her that we were all heading down to Asbury Park see The Gaslight Anthemat The Stone Pony she immediately smiled and began to reminisce about her summer trips with friends and family to Seaside and Bradley Beach. As a teenager, my mother and her friends used to sneak into The Stone Pony for a night of music and dancing; she was even fortunate enough to see the almighty Bruce Springsteen grace the stage on the corner of Ocean and 2nd Ave. What makes this story both heartwarming and heartbreaking is that as I looked out at the boardwalk and down into Asbury Park last night I realized that landscape of the city probably hasn’t changed very much since my Mom stood on that same corner over 25 years ago. The area is still poor and depressed, scattered with empty lots and abandoned buildings. More on Gaslight after the jump.
~Stark Special Reporter- Matt Murphy Recently, the Asbury Park area has been rich with optimism and investors eager to redevelop this lost part of the Jersey Shore. In the last decade many of the buildings on the waterfront have undergone massive renovations, although many of the blocks surrounding the waterfront still are visibly vacant and empty.
I find it absolutely befitting that I was in Asbury to see The Gaslight Anthem, a band that wears it’s central Jersey roots on it’s sleeve and who’s music evokes youthful optimism among the depressed setting of Springsteen’s Asbury Park. The Stone Pony is a landmark in New Jersey history that links generations of musicians and fans alike; I can’t help but observe how the music of The Gaslight Anthem links Springsteen and Cure era rock to today’s generation in the same way. Shortly after opening their set, Gaslight frontman Brian Fallon predictably launched into a tale of his own experience coming to shows at The Stone Pony as a teenager. It was clear from the get-go that these guys were having fun being back home after almost two consecutive years of touring. It was also clear that The Gaslight Anthem have mastered the club show – they owned the attention of the mob for the entire set.
I also couldn’t help but sense the fans’ pride in watching Jersey’s best-kept secret on brink of unleashing themselves on the mainstream. We can only hope that as they graduate to larger venues and a more diverse fan base that they can continue to convey their club-show charm. As they launched into song after song I began to think that this may be the last time that we see Fallon and his mates in a venue like The Stone Pony. One thing is for sure, these guys are going to be stars. The Gaslight Anthem has already recaptured the magic of yesteryear and brought it to the new generation – we can only hope that the City of Asbury Park will be able to recapture that same kind of magic.
We've already postedThe Avetts doing an inspired take on "Glory Days" as part of Bruce Springsteen's Hangin' Out On E Street sessions, and now it's Shane Henderson of Valencia's turn to re-imagine another Boss classic. Henderson takes a shot at "Reason To Believe," from 1982's seminal Nebraska, and scores. We've raved ad nauseum about the level of passion this guy and his band bring to everything they do, and this pensive, acoustic take on an arguably untouchable song is no different. Valencia's sophomore effort, which is not-so-coincidentally titled We All Need A Reason To Believe,is in stores now via Columbia.
Bruce Springsteen is having a hell of a year so far, crotch slides and all, and it's only getting better. The Boss's official site has enlisted a heap of indie artists to contribute to "Hanging Out On E. Street," a series of video interviews and performances dedicated to Springsteen's songs. Our favorite so far is The Avett Brothers' stripped-down but jubilant take on "Glory Days." The Brothers took a break from recording their Columbia debut with Rick Rubin to participate in the project, which also features bands like The Gaslight Anthem, Teagan and Sara, Ted Leo and Valencia. Check out the performance after the jump.
Meanwhile, there are other great things going on in cyberspace this morning. Obi Best, who is fronted by Alex Lilly (backups on The Bird And The Bee's latest) brings us the dreamy video for "Green and White Stripes." It's directed by Max Goldblatt, who also did MGMT's "Boogie Down" clip. We've also got a showcase from Princeton, who first came on our radar last year. They shot a low-budget video on Super-8 film over the course of a winter weekend in LA for "The Waves," which has serious replay value. Lastly, check out some footage of North Carolina's Roman Candle performing new sessions at the Lake Fever Sessions, complete with a cute little kid talking about boogers in the beginning of the clip. We are so there.
Well, it's been the worst kept secret in the music world for several months, but America's favorite reunited hippies (read: Phish) are headlining two nights of the eighth annual Bonnaroo festival. (Which, you know, is completely neccessary.) The Boss is joining them, hoping to emulate his crotch-tastic Superbowl performance from Sunday, as are the Beasties, David Byrne, Wilco, Nine Inch Nails, Al Green, SNOOP DOGG, Elvis Costello, Animal Collective, MGMT, Bon Iver and a billion others. You have to give the organizers credit: minus the whole Phish thing, the lineup looks pretty okay.
We'll be trying our hardest to make it down to Manchester this year, after last year's soiree left us awed and hung over. Tickets go on sale exclusively through the festival's official Web site on Saturday (2/7) at noon. Check out a video of the announcement featuring something called "stratostencil animation" (whatever that is) after the jump. Not as good as Lewis Black, unfortunately.
Via Some Velvet Blog is another potential Coldplay vs. Joe Satriani style rip-off controversy. It seems that some sleuthing internet user has pieced together sections of Bruce Springsteen's "Outlaw Pete" from his newest Working on a Dream (Columbia 1/27) with Kiss' "I Was Made for Loving You." See what you think below. Also of note are the differing opinions of Paste writer and resident Boss expert Andy Whitman who trashesWorking on a Dream and Rolling Stone who bows once again to their hero in their latest 5 star review and cover story. Shocking? Doubtful.
NPR, in conjunction with the Boss, just released Working on a Dream, available now for an exclusive full stream. Springsteen's newest release drops physically Jan. 27 on Columbia. How fitting that we listen to the new LP while watching the historic inauguration of Barack Obama. The Internets have been slower today, that's for sure. STREAM HERE.
Maybe they felt some added pressure because a real live member of the E-Street Band was in their presence, but New Jersey's The Gaslight Anthemsurerocked the shit out of Studio 6A in Rockefeller Center last night. They delivered a triumphant performance of the title track to this year's breakthrough The '59 Sound, which should make many a year-end-list around here, prompting Conan O'Brien himself to call the band "killer." And yeah, we know he has to do that with all the bands, but usually they're just "great." Catch the video after the jump.
Bruce Springsteen has got a hell of a year coming up in 2009. Already on cloud nine following the victory of his candidate of choice, President-Elect Barack Obama, and gearing up for a halftime performance on the world's biggest stage in Super Bowl 43, the Boss added another item to his agenda: the release of a brand new album. While already rumored for a few weeks, this morning the folks at Columbia made it official: Working on a Dream has been set for release on Jaunary 27 via the label.
Recorded with Brendan O'Brien and the E-Street band on the heels of last year's superb Magic, the twelve-song set features the rousing title track, a song the band has been playing live for the last month at campaign rallies. Says Springsteen: "All the songs were written quickly, we usually used one of our first few takes, and we all had a blast making this one from beginning to end." Consider us stoked. We've got the full track list and live video of "Working On A Dream" after the jump.
"Working on a Dream"
1. Outlaw Pete 2. My Lucky Day 3. Working on a Dream 4. Queen of the Supermarket 5. What Love Can Do 6. This Life 7. Good Eye 8. Tomorrow Never Knows 9. Life Itself 10. Kingdom of Days 11. Surprise, Surprise 12. The Last Carnival
Bonus tracks: The Wrestler A Night with the Jersey Devil
How spooky! Here Springsteen invokes his inner Tom Waits in a Halloween-inspired, cliche blues tune. We kind of dig the evangelical, sermonizing, cross-wearing Boss. He just looks so damn demanding, that we want to convert to whatever he is preaching about. Reminds us of Paul Dano a.k.a Eli Sunday from "There Will Be Blood."
This video makes us never want to spend an evening with the Jersey Devil. Thanks for ruining that for us Bruce.
While spinning the new record The '59 Sound from New Jersey's The Gaslight Anthem, I found myself wondering, is this America's next great rock band? After days of listening and researching, The Gaslight Anthem remain a mystery to me. Half of me sees visions of a denim-clad Bruce Springsteen at his worst, singing "Glory Days" in a bar and pitching baseballs in Jersey... I shudder. Yet, the other half, the half that is winning out, sees a regular pub-rock band writing infectious songs about lost love with that sort of teenage wistfulness Springsteen captured so well in the beginning stages of his career.
Buzz has been building around Gaslight , but I can't seem to figure out where it's coming from. The major blogs haven't touched them, and I've yet to see more than a mention in a large publication. Yet, people have been emailing me asking if I've listened to them, and they are now in the top sellers on emusic. Good music has a way of getting heard I guess. No matter how many times I've questioned them, I've found myself reaching for the record, willing to endure the visions of Courtney Cox dancing in my head. I encourage you to listen and judge for yourself. It may just be that refreshing breath of wholesome American rock you've been missing since you were 16.
...Bruce Springsteen comparisons came easy as Titus opened their set with several verses from "Thunder Road." As Springsteen freewheels around the stage and often strays from the vocal melodies, as did lead singer Patrick Stickles. Twisting and writhing, Stickles delivered lyrics in incomprehensible screams and moans. Just as the E-Street band does for the Boss, the rest of Titus Andronicus held tight to the form of every song. They played with a passion and maturity that allowed Stickles to go ape-shit on stage all the while delivering a tight well focused set... Full review and photos after the jump...
Although surprisingly undersold, the show Sunday night at the Mercury Lounge featured three of the summer's most buzzed about bands. Abe Vigoda and Ponytail delivered energetic sets of noise-filled, punk-rock music, while Titus Andronicus closed the evening by clearly demonstrating how a fully formed band should look and sound. While delivering a great album earlier this summer, the War on Drugs' set failed to capture the record's urgency and passion as most songs dragged along in a sea of messy electronics and languid tempos.
Publications from Pitchfork to Fader have weighed in, favoring Abe Vigoda and Ponytail. Although Abe Vigoda did well to capture the sounds and aesthetics of noise rock legends such as The Jesus and Mary Chain, (one even sported an old JAMC tee shirt,) they failed to deliver the vocal power and melodies of their predecessors. Ponytail channeled a more progressive sound, at times reminiscent of Battles, only delivering their songs in accessible three to four minute pop nuggets. Driven by their spectacular drummer Jeremy Hyman, Ponytail managed an uplifting, positive, and infectious set; yet, the role of "lead singer" Molly Siegel seemed ill-defined, and at least live, she seemed more like an energetic place holder.
Like a breath of fresh air after what was becoming a long evening, Titus Andronicus set up, line checked and were ready to go a half-hour early. It's hard to describe maturity exactly, but Titus looked the part of a real band before even playing a single note. Complete with a self-produced light show, every band member seemed ready to go and conducted themselves with an adult demeanor that belied their real age and level of experience. While Vigoda and Ponytail captured a youthful exuberance, Titus Andronicus' set clearly demonstrated that those bands have some growing up to do before they are counted in the same league as some of their indie rock peers.
Bruce Springsteen comparisons came easy as Titus opened their set with several verses from "Thunder Road." As Springsteen freewheels around the stage and often strays from the vocal melodies, as did lead singer Patrick Stickles. Just as the E-Street band does for the Boss, the rest of Titus Andronicus held tight to the form of every song. They played with a passion and maturity that allowed Stickles to go ape-shit on stage all the while delivering a tight well focused set. Playing the best from their excellent record The Airing of Grievences, Titus Andronicus made their openers look like boys and girls amongst men and women. Titus made the Mercury Lounge their own and showed why they will remain standing long after the summer's hype has faded. Lovely photos by Karp.
In the midst of lots of possible posts this morning and little time - this was too cool not to put up here. One of my long-time favorite artists (thanks Lee), Alejandro Escovedeo, got a resounding endorsement from the Boss and the full E-Street band last night in Houston. Bruce invited Alejandro to the stage and the full band played the single "Always a Friend" from Alejandro's amazing new album, Real Animal, hitting stores on June 24th from Back Porch/Manhattan Records. The new record is a true return to form for Alejandro as he relies heavily on the guitar rock of his early days, while blending in the beautiful string laced ballads only a musician of his maturity can produce. Enough talk - check it out. Alejandro doing his best Win Butler... or something like that.
The Gaslight Anthem @ The Stone Pony
Photo courtesy of The New York Times
Photo by Danny Clinch
The Gaslight Anthem - "Great Expectations" - mp3
...Bruce Springsteen comparisons came easy as Titus opened their set with several verses from "Thunder Road." As Springsteen freewheels around the stage and often strays from the vocal melodies, as did lead singer Patrick Stickles. Twisting and writhing, Stickles delivered lyrics in incomprehensible screams and moans. Just as the E-Street band does for the Boss, the rest of Titus Andronicus held tight to the form of every song. They played with a passion and maturity that allowed Stickles to go ape-shit on stage all the while delivering a tight well focused set...
