Concert Review – Gaslight Anthem

A young punk influenced flock, drifted into the Commodore Ballroom last night. The eager faces, looking to the stage for a glimpse of the New Jersey bread band The Gaslight Anthem. With a deep bass beat, leading the way, the band took to the stage. A powerful show ensued. From the charismatic bassist, catering to the mob, to the delicate balance between vocals and lead guitar, this night was beautiful. A minimalist stage setup added the perfect accent to their performance. To encompass my entire musical journey of the evening, I would place my feeling in the explosive rising star category. Look out for this band they are doing, and will continue to do amazing things.

From the moment of arriving at the venue, there seemed to be a cookie cutter look to the majority of the herd. A multitude of fedoras, skinny ties and neck tattoos proliferated the room. The usual consumerist blitz of the merchandise booth took place. Clambering bare hands eagerly returned with refreshing beverages. An uneventful crowd for the most part, but like a trap door spider they lay and wait. Each time a band took the stage they erupted with appreciative enthusiasm. The united mob of music lovers, seemed picturesque, almost fake. Looking at the crowd it almost all seemed surreal, like that of a music video.

When the lights dropped, a thunderous bass beat began bumping. The army on the floor began to spring as companions to the pulse. Exhaustive howls in anticipation of the band, bellowed forth. The band emerged from the dark curtain, and took their places on the stage. From the first note, you could feel the explosion of intensity this band has to offer. The cluster congregated before them, was overwhelmed with excitement. From the first song, crowd surfers raced across the out stretched hands of there music loving brethren.

The lead vocalist, Brian Fallon, was passionate. His raspy growl, scrapes your soul and leaves you mesmerized. Such a powerful voice, from a smaller man, its amazing to witness. The bassist, Alex Levine, held the crowd in the palm of his hand. His interaction drove the mass wild, and built a synergy between the two entities. The cherry on this whole thing was the lead guitarist, Alex Rosamilia. He made that guitar weep for the group before them. The actual beauty was the interplay between the strong raspy vocals, and the sweet delicate perfection of the guitar. It is the hook that I think makes the band magical. The drums were manned by Benny Horowitz, and he powered out each song. Always the easiest to fade to the background, this drummer made his presence known.

Song selection did not matter, everything in their arsenal is show worthy. Nothing in their entire catalog is considered shelveable, they can play everything live and bring the fans marching back time and time again. The evidence was there last night, its the pure passionate musicianship they perform with. In an age where bands are formed and fall apart, on a daily basis, this band is the real deal. They are not here for the wrong reasons, they are here for the love of music. It shines through with the beaming glow they play with.

Seeing this band live gives you the highest level of appreciation for their style and original sound. Combine that with the pure level of professionalism and sheer intensity they perform with, you have musical bliss. I urge everyone to pick up one of their albums, either 2008′s The ’59 Sound or 2007′s Sink or Swim. Grab one, lay back and enjoy. If you ever get a chance to see them live, jump at it, you will not be disappointed.

Happy Concerting

Jamie Taylor
www.concertaddicts.ca

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Jamie Taylor – who has contributed 3308 posts for Concert Addicts.

"With a love for live music, way too much to say and inability to put down his camera , photojournalism was a logical step in his journey. Concert Addicts was born from a desire to express his opinion, share his photography, and share knowledge. Now the community is no longer his, it is ours."

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