Bruce Springsteen Plays "American Slang" with Gaslight Athem in Asbury Park on Friday

The NJ powerhouse The Gaslight Anthem did a show on the Jersey shore Friday, at Convention Hall in Asbury Park. If you've never been, Convention Hall is on the boardwalk, next to a Howard Johnsons foncy ponts supper club, and is probably as big as your grammar school auditorium with better acoustics. A show there in and of itself would be something. But the boys went one better and, as a holiday gift to fans, brought that other NJ powerhouse up to join them, the one whose Christmas shows at Convention Hall are shows of legend, Bruce Springsteen, for "American Slang."

I was supposed to shoot this show, and missing Gaslight at a place this small was a heartbreaker. But then hearing Bruce did show up? Let's just say it's good we Catholics believe suicide is a mortal sin. But thankfully, we got video of it!

Gaslight Anthem Moves Labels, Signs with Mercury Records

Gaslight Anthem announced today that they have moved labels, from Side One Dummy to Mercury Records.

We're pleased to announce that we have just signed with Mercury Records (that's Mercury/Island-Def Jam Records for North America and Mercury Records UK for the rest of the world). We have had a great run with the folks at Side One Dummy Records, they have been really terrific to work with, and they will always be our dear friends. We in the band felt that this was the best time to make a move to ...support our goals as a band, and we've met some really earnest and dedicated folks at Mercury US and UK. We're hard at work writing songs now for what we feel is going to be the best record we've ever made! Thanks to everyone for your support and we look forward to seeing you in 2012!

Thanks!
The Gaslight Anthem

Gaslight will release its iTunes Session of four covers, "The Who, Pearl Jam, The Animals and Tom Petty, along with one track that we have never put on a record before called “Our Fathers Sons” and a new version of “Boxer,"" on 12/13.

Seen Your Video: "American Slang" by Gaslight Anthem

One of the greatest songs off of American Slang, the newest release from Gaslight Anthem, is its title track. Ringing guitar riffs, driving drums, and lines like "You told me fortunes in American slang," it's one of those great songs to drive to, one that's perfect for pounding the beat of the chorus on your steering wheel.

The band released the video for it today, a mix of concert footage and visuals of Brooklyn, where lead singer Brian Fallon recently moved. It even includes a cameo by Fallon's wife at about 2:44. Kevin Custer, who also did “The Making of American Slang,” “The ’59 Sound” and “Great Expectations" for them, directed.

Springsteen's London Calling: Live in Hyde Park DVD out Tues

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band headlined the Hard Rock Calling Festival last June in Hyde Park, London, a festival which also included Dave Matthews and Gaslight Anthem. Springsteen's set was recorded and come Tuesday, it comes out on DVD titled London Calling: Live in Hyde Park. Bonus tracks include "The River," from the Glastonbury Festival performance that same year, and "Wrecking Ball," from the last show at Giant's Stadium in October.

A really cool part of the show was when Bruce called fellow New Jerseyite, Brian Fallon, lead singer of Gaslight Anthem, out to sing "No Surrender" with him and the band. The obviously genuine excitement on Fallon's face is goosebump-inducing for sure. Says Fallon about it, "...he [Springsteen] asked me if I wanted to sing with him during their set. I was just like, “Yeah!” We did “No Surrender.” The second day, he came out and did “The ’59 Sound” with us, and I did “No Surrender” again. It was unreal. I was in front of a hundred thousand people. It’s so weird, because you look and you see nothing but dots. I looked around and was like, “I can’t believe this is happening.”



Give a Listen: London Calling-Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (Hyde Park, 4-28-09)/Buy London Calling-Live in Hyde Park DVD, out 6/21

Seen Your Video: Gaslight Anthem Cover Pearl Jam's "State of Love and Trust" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Gaslight Anthem at the Stone Pony Presale Happening, uh, NOW!

Gaslight Anthem @ 930 Club, Washington, DC (10-22-09)-1024, originally uploaded by BetweenLoveandLike.

Like Gaslight Anthem? Well sure you do. Want to see them in a place like The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ? You should want to (history, man, history. And a stone's throw from the beach).

If so then read on, because I just got the word, the presale is happening for this 8/5show here as we speak. With them this round will be Frank Turner and William Elliott Whitmore. (They'll be on the Pony's Summerstage, which I believe is another word for "outdoors.") Who knows, you might even get a onstage appearance by Asbury's favorite son, as he's known to be a fan of the band.

Public onsale is tomorrow at noon, EST here.

Gaslight Anthem Announce Mid-Summer Tour Dates/NYC Record Release Show

http://www.flickr.com/photos/betweenloveandlike/4291737369/, originally uploaded by BetweenLoveandLike.

Gaslight Anthem's new record American Slang drops 6/15, and if you're in NYC that night, you would do yourself well to attend their release party at Irving Plaza (tickets go on sale to the general public here on Friday, April 30, at 10 a.m. EST).

I've just started working my way through American Slang, and though I haven't heard anything that grabbed my ears immediately like The '59 Sound's "Miles Davis & The Cool," I hold out hope. Definitely digging some of lead singer/guitarist Brian Fallon's lyrical abilities though ("I'll tell you fortunes in american slang" has become one of my favorite lines thus far). Plus, I think this record may be one of those whose tracks you should see live before passing any judgement. Gaslight is a kick-ass band live, and bands like that can make tracks that are just "meh" on record, come alive and sparkle super pretty in concert.

Speaking of concerts, Gaslight announced a bunch of dates for mid-summer today, including a tremendous show in Detroit with The Hold Steady and The Whigs. Fingers crossed for a DC date in August!

Mid-Summer 2010 Gaslight Anthem Tour Dates
JUNE
15 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza *

JULY
14 - Toronto, ON - Sound Academy *
15 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore (special lineup also featuring The Hold Steady and The Whigs)
16 - St. Louis, MO - Pop's *
17 - Kansas City, MO - Midland Theatre *
20 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre *
21 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern *
22 - San Jose, CA - "Music in the Park Series"
24 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre *
26 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *
27 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues *
28 - Columbus, OH - LC Pavillion *
29 - Philadelphia, PA - Great Plaza at Penn's Landing *
31 - Providence, RI - Lupo's *

AUGUST
01 - Montreal, QC - Osheaga Music and Arts Festival
02 - Boston, MA - House of Blues *

* = w/ Tim Barry and special guests

Pre-order for American Slang kicks off tomorrow, 4/27 at all the usual suspects (and here). The iTunes pre-order features two additional bonus songs: a new track, "She Loves You," and an acoustic version of "American Slang."

In Honor of Tonight's Gaslight Anthem Show @ the 930...

Gaslight Anthem is at the 930 tonight for the first time, I believe, and if what I hear is true, the live show that these NJ natives put on will blow DC's ears and minds with their rad rock sounds.

Lead singer Brian Fallon's voice and delivery have often been compared to NJ's more famous son. That sort of gravel-strewn bellow works for rock songs but not always on those that require a little softer touch; it definitely takes technique and style to let the tenderness come through in voices like those. Bruce does it beautifully and here, covering Leonard Cohen's epic "Hallelujah," Fallon proves he shares more with Bruce than hailing from the land of refinery towers.



(Gaslight Anthem's 930 Club show is sold out tonight. The rest of the dates for this leg of their '59 Sound tour can be seen here.)

Gaslight Anthem Announce Fall Tour Dates

Jersey favorites The Gaslight Anthem announced fall 2009 tour dates today, with more cities and dates expected to be confirmed in the weeks to come.

The band's Fall tour marks their last headline run before they head into the studio later this year to record their follow-up to THE '59 SOUND. Gaslight's headline Fall tour features Murder By Death as direct support. The lineup will be rounded out by a rotating group of great bands, including The Loved Ones, Jesse Malin, Frank Turner, Broadway Calls, and Ninja Gun.

The lucky ducks are opening for three Social D shows in Germany, and for fellow New Joyseyian, Bruce Springsteen at London's Hyde Park on 6/28.

Give a Listen: I'm On Fire (live Springsteen cover)-Gaslight Anthem

GASLIGHT ANTHEM FALL 2009 TOUR (more to be announced shortly):
Sept 8: Mr. Small's @ Pittsburgh
Sept 9: Bogart's @ Cincinnati
Sept 10: Pop's @ St. Louis
Sept 11: Sokol Auditorium @ Omaha
Sept 13: Ogden Theater @ Denver
Sept 16: House of Blues @ San Diego
Sept 17: Henry Fonda Theater @ Los Angeles
Sept 20: Fillmore @ San Francisco
Sept 22: Berbati's Pan @ Portland
Sept 23: Showbox @ Seattle
Sept 24: Commodore @ Vancouver BC
Sept 26: Edmonton Arts Ctr @ Edmonton
Sept 27: MacEwan Ballroom @ Calgary
Sept 29: Riddell Centre @ Regina
Oct 1: Garrick Centre @ Winnipeg
Oct 3: Epic @ Minneapolis
Oct 4: Turner Hall @ Milwaukee
Oct 6: St. Andrew's Hall @ Detroit
Oct 12: Town Ballroom @ Buffalo NY
Oct 13: Kool Haus @ Toronto ON
Oct 18: Trocadero @ Philadelphia
Oct 21: The National @ Richmond VA
Oct 22: 9:30 Club @ Washington DC
Oct 26: Newport Music Hall @ Columbus