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!

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.

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."