If you never let me go, I will never let you down.

(September 8th, 2009 Millvale, PA - Mr. Small's)

After seeing The Gaslight Anthem in March, I added them to the list of bands I'll never miss when they're in town, so as soon as a fall headliner was announced, I made arrangements to find my way there. The thing I've found about going to weeknight shows is that the crowd is always much cooler than on weekends, there's less high school kids trying to impress each other, and it's more like a bunch of friends. I met a couple really cool people from all over the tri-state area just waiting outside the venue. My friend and I even got a spot right on the barrier because we were pretty early. It was his first good show too, so the night was looking rather promising.

Then Ninja Gun took the stage. Oh what a horrible segue. They were actually really good, in context. I don't know if I'd go see them headline, but if my dad wanted something to do on a Saturday night and they were playing a bar, I'd be all over it. To reiterate that statement, they reminded me of something that would fit really well in a bar in a working man's town, just good times music, staying optimistic. That was the general atmosphere for everyone's sets.

The second band to play, The Loved Ones, came out and absolutely burned the stage up. I've seen a lot of bands live, and I've (over)used a lot of adjectives to try to give you some kind of sense of what they're like, but The Loved Ones are the first band that reminded me of real, good old rock stars. I've never seen a band have so much fun and sound so good, while simultaneously giving a great first impression. They also kept the optimism alive with smiles and similar subject matter. Dave Hause, the band's rhythm guitarist and vocalist, was all over the stage. I only wish I would've picked up one of their records on vinyl, or at the very least a t-shirt, to support such a good band and such great guys. I went home the next night and I've been listening to Build & Burn ever since. They're another band to add to that very same list I talked about two paragraphs ago.

Sometimes it takes seeing a band live for me to really appreciate their recorded output. Such is the case with Murder by Death. While I've had all of their full length albums in my library for quite a while, I never really got into it, but when they took the stage, they really changed my mind. It wasn't a particularly awe-inspiring performance, it didn't even seem like they were having that great of a night, they just came out and played, and left a majority of the crowd (including myself) quite satisfied. "Those Who Stayed," the set's instrumental closer, was particularly impressive, and left me wanting more. When I go to see bands that I adore headline, such is the case with Gaslight, I tend to get a bit anxious during the openers, especially the direct support, but Murder by Death kept me interested throughout their whole set. That's very commendable, and depending on the opening acts, I would even go see them headline.

set list:

Sometimes the Line Walks You

'52 Ford

Ball and Chain

A Masters In Reverse Psychology

Ash

Steal Away

Steam Rising

Comin' Home

Organ Grinder

Brother

Until Morale Improves, The Beatings Will Continue

Those Who Stayed

The first time I saw Gaslight, I didn't even know the songs all that well, but it was still one of my favorite sets I'd seen. Knowing the songs definitely made it even better. Anything that I had to complain about last time was put in the past. The sound was unbelievable, and the whole band was having a great time (as usual). While the song choices were excellent, it was very similar to the spring tour's set lists. I wouldn't have minded a little bit of variation, but I left happy nonetheless.

set list:

High Lonesome

Casanova, Baby!

Old White Lincoln

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

The '59 Sound

We Came to Dance

Film Noir

Miles Davis & The Cool

Meet Me By the River's Edge

Stand By Me/I'da Called You Woody, Joe

Angry Johnny & the Radio

Great Expectations

Here's Looking at You, Kid

The Backseat

encore:

Blue Jeans & White T-Shirts

Wherefore Art Thou, Elvis?

Drive

Still, we sing with our heroes.

(March 29th, 2009 Millvale, PA - Mr. Small's)


When 2008 ended, I posted all of my different end-of-the-year lists, and was, for the most part, on the same page as most of my colleagues. I did manage to miss out on one album – The Gaslight Anthem’s The ’59 Sound – and boy did I miss out. When I post my revised lists (which will be coming at the end of June), it’s sure to be very close to the top of the Best Albums of 2008. Anyway, when I did finally come around to listening to this album, it wasn’t long before it was in regular rotation on my iPod. They managed to work their way into the top four most-listened to artists on my last.fm page in less than a month. This was after I had decided that I wouldn’t be going to see them on March 29th. Since then, my mind changed.

It helped that they were bringing one of my favorite bands from last year, Good Old War, to town with them. Consisting of two former members of Days Away (the second band I ever saw live) and one from Unlikely Cowboy, Good Old War play a very listener friendly brand of folk rock reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel, but can hold their own on stage with flamboyant frontman Anthony Green of Circa Survive. As soon as their set started, I could tell they were going to be spot on musically. The vocal harmonies of the first four songs were flawless, the musicianship was indisputable (particularly Dan Shwartz’s guitar playing), but the eye-catching aspect of their set was the palpable fun they were having. Already being very familiar with their music, I expected to enjoy their set more than most of the crowd, but was pleasantly surprised to find everyone in the room paying very close attention, and applauding enthusiastically after each song. Clearly, many were impressed. The stand out from the set was a new song called “My Own Sinking Ship” (I asked Dan the title after the show), I literally caught myself laughing at the lyrics’ relevance in my personal life. It also featured Timmy Armstrong playing accordion, rather than his usual drumming. Saw Creek EP, to be released later this year, is sure to be a handsome addition to the bands small catalog. The songs that followed were just as enjoyable; the band seemed even more comfortable than they were when the set started.

set list:
Window
Weak Man
Just Another Day
I’m Not For You
Tell Me
My Own Sinking Ship (new song)
Coney Island
Looking For Shelter

Following Good Old War, a band called Heartless Bastards was on. Prior to the show, I knew nothing of them. I didn’t know what they looked like, sounded like, anything. I was 100% in the dark. When they took the stage, I was a bit surprised. The frontwoman reminds me of my own mother, only a tiny bit cooler (she can sing and play guitar, my mom can’t even drive). At the beginning of their set, I was enjoying it, but only enough to keep me from talking. I had my phone out, was only semi-paying attention, just kind of there. About halfway into the set though, they played a song called “The Mountain” that featured their bassist playing pedal steel guitar and their lead guitarist playing bass. It takes a lot for a song to get me really into it, to move me. That song did. After that the set really picked up and I was hooked. I could feel the intensity, and my sentiments were echoed by most of the audience.

And now, the reason we were all gathered in an old church on a Sunday night: The Gaslight Anthem. Set up was relatively quick, thanks to Gaslight’s hard working tech. They came out and jumped right into the set with “Great Expectations,” and I could tell it was going to be a good night. They blasted through several songs on The ’59 Sound before mixing a few of the standouts from Sink or Swim into the set. All of ’59 was played, save for “The Patient Ferris Wheel,” coincidentally one of my favorites on the album. Still, the set lacked nothing. Frontman Brian Fallon was clearly enveloped into his music, and everyone appreciated it. He meant every note he played, every word he sang, and sounded great in the process. All in all, while my mind wasn’t blown or anything, I was definitely stirred by the set. If you get the chance, and you’re a fan, take the time to go see the Gaslight Anthem. On that note, if you haven’t already, give The ’59 Sound a listen.

set list:
Great Expectations
High Lonesome
Old White Lincoln
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
Casanova, Baby!
The ’59 Sound
We Came To Dance
Wooderson
Film Noir
Miles Davis & the Cool
1930
Boomboxes and Dictionaries
Meet Me By the River’s Edge
Here’s At Looking at You, Kid
The Backseat

encore:
Blue Jeans & White T-Shirts
Stand By Me/I’da Called You Woody, Joe
Angry Johnny and the Radio