How did you discover the Gaslight Anthem?

I saw an article on the AOL homepage that had a teaser headline saying something about how this new band sounded like Bruce Springsteen. I love Bruce, so I clicked on the link and the rest is history. I ordered Sink or Swim, Señor and the Queen, and 59 Sound that day and preordered American Slang. They just keep getting better and I'll be a fan for life!

Was watching a Springsteen video on youtube and someone said that if you like springsteen check out 59 sound by The Gaslight Anthem. So I did. The line "Ain't supposed to die on a Saturday night" is what did it. It pretty much hit me in the face.

J_Bizness wrote:

Was watching a Springsteen video on youtube and someone said that if you like springsteen check out 59 sound by The Gaslight Anthem. So I did. The line "Ain't supposed to die on a Saturday night" is what did it. It pretty much hit me in the face.

I totally agree. The line "Ain't supposed to die on a Saturday night" is so powerful and it really sends a message, especially to those of us who have lost someone like how the guys lost their friend. I'm glad you mentioned these lyrics!

I remember that I confuse the gaslight anthem with streetlight manifesto, I don't know why, but in that time I didn't like streetlight manifesto so I was refusing to listen gaslight. I remember that I was watching videos in youtube and I accidentally put drive... the rest is obvious, I fell in love with tga

When they toured with Rise Against/Thrice/Alkaline Trio
I looked them up since they were the only band I didn’t know, and well in love. So it wasn’t too long ago. :’) They’ve become one of my favorite bands. :DDDD

I saw some article in 2009 in Rolling Stone about that year's Lollapalooza and as selfish as it seems, what caught my eye was it said they're from NJ, LOL. So I said 'oh, let me check them out on youtube' and the rest is history

I was talking to a guitarist, and he was telling me that his greater inspiration is The Gaslight Anthem! Well this person may just be the next Bob Dylan so I bought The '59 Sound the next day, and they're my favorite band since then

I'm a big Bruce fan so like many others discovered Brian when he performed Backstreets on Hanging out on E Street. At least I consider Backstreets to be one of Bruce's best songs, however the only arrangement Bruce has played it was full Band which is loud and long with the exception of one time during the Devil's and Dust tour which he played solo on the piano which pretty much had the same intensity, tempo, and loud vocals.

To hear Brian interpret the song and play it how it resonated with him, softer and slower yet invoking the emotion just blew me away. Before that I had no idea about the Jersey connection to Bruce and the influence makes sense now but at the time my initial reaction was this guy is the next Bruce Springsteen.

I'll be the first to say I think the whole Bruce connection to Brian with how the media portrays it is over played, I can't think of a single song by the Gaslight that actually sounds like it could of been an E Street Band song. Not to mention that they ignore his other influences that can actually be heard in Brian's music for the feel good Jersey connection story.

So in that regard I don't think Brian is the next Springsteen since he doesn't write lyrics or arrange songs like Bruce, however what i will say is that Bruce makes you believe in his music better than any other artist. His lyrics are poetry and when you listen you're not learning about Bruce but simply yourself which is pretty amazing. I think that's where the Brian-Bruce comparison starts, Brian writes great lyrics (maybe "immature" at times) but he makes you believe when he's on stage like Bruce can and again it's connecting the fans to the music which is extremely hard to do. It'll be really interesting to see Brian grow as an artist in the next 2 or 3 albums since I think he has the creativity reservoir and the talent to last quite awhile.

waltzingseñora wrote:

I was talking to a guitarist, and he was telling me that his greater inspiration is The Gaslight Anthem! Well this person may just be the next Bob Dylan so I bought The '59 Sound the next day, and they're my favorite band since then

so what guitarist is that??

I discovered Gaslight after I bought an issue of Kerrang! magazine to read on a flight to Spain for my summer holiday in 2009, there was no article about TGA, but there was a poster of Brian (which is on the wall behind me as I type). I remember reading at the bottom of the poster Brian Fallon - The Gaslight Anthem and wondering what their music would sound like, but I had to wait two weeks till I got back from holiday until I could look them up and listen to it, it was well worth the wait, I fell in love instantly, I think it was The '59 Sound I heard first.

Got shown the 59 sound, wasn't really into it but then I had a listen again like 4 months after and then I listened to 'Old White Lincoln' and my life was never the same after...... best band ever.

Bit of a dull story really but Ill share it anyway. Simply came from seeing brian sing his parts to 'No Surrender' with Bruce. My best mate had been encourageing me to check Gaslight out for months but I kept forgetting/ not getting round to it but I thought Brian sang his parts really well and I thought Wow! This guy has an amazing voice so I ordered The '59 Sound and since then it has taken its place in my 3 top albums of all time alongside Bruces 'Born To Run' and Bon Jovi's 'New Jersey'.

A friend of mine played a couple of songs from the 59'-album in early 2009 and I got paralyzed by this bands greatness. A couple of months later I saw the boys live on West Coast Riot in Gothenburg, Sweden. After that concert Gaslight has always been number one too me.

Like many have already said, Brian's vocals on No Surrender opened my eyes to TGA. Growing up in Navesink, it was not hard to immediately love every song I listened to. However, it was during a solemn time in my life where I really started to listen to every word.

The '59 Sound album, and in particular, the line "a boy in grandma's arms" will remind me of my grandmother, and her last few days where I'd drive an hour each way to just sit and listen to music or watch TV. I wrote the lyrics down, left them on her night stand. Her nurse read them to her often. She may have never heard them, but she knows now.

The other night, I couldn't help but smile as she knew how much fun my friends and I had as we watched TGA in Asbury, singing every word of every song.
RIP Catherine "Kay" Germano 1927-2010

BobbyBaseball, your post (more of a testimonial to TGA, really), made me cry. That was very beautiful and I'm sure your Grandma heard the lyrics you left for her. It's amazing how powerful words can be.

Welcome to the forum!

Been into Gaslight since like four or five years ago when my uncle did me a copy of this new band he was raving about, completely fell in love with them from that moment.

My friend recommended gaslight to me around 2009 but input them on the back burner for a while until American Slang came out and then my obsession started

Nice to have you with us, Don Carlo! What's your favorite Gaslight song?

Thanks glad to be here! My favorite gaslight song usually differs with mood and what album is currently in heavy rotation and right now I can't get enough of I Coulda Been A Contender but I'd say my favorite all time song of theirs is The Backseat. Such a great classic turn up the radio jam.

Since Surrogate McKenzie 99'-00' ish. Been hooked to Brian Fallon in general ever since. Haven't met that many TGA fans out here on the West coast yet!

Wow, you've been a fan for a long time, LuckyinLV! Glad to have you as part of the forum.

Hi everyone - I am new here so be gentle!

I got into the band after they appeared on Jools Holland's Later show in the UK in the autumn of 2010.

Best band around by far these days, I reckon!

Welcome to the forum, Steve70s!!!

Cheers - can't say enough good things about the band although I am yet to see them live - almost made Download last summer but never did which is a shame as The Cult played there too.

Really into the Horrible Crowes record at the moment too - it's inspired me to write for my band here in the UK.

I haven't seen Gaslight live yet either! It's a damn shame, that's for sure. Last time they played close to me I couldn't find a ride.

Do you have a link for your band? I'd love to hear some stuff!