The Gaslight Anthem rock Effenaar

This was originally posted on June 10, 2009.


Late last year I heard "The 59 sound" and "Old white Lincoln" on Dutch alternative rock station Kink FM, and it immediately grabbed my attention: The Gaslight Anthem sounded like the boys are heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen AND 80s New Wave band The Cure. They're more punk than both of them, without sounding like neither The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Black Flag nor The Clash.
(I've read that The Gaslight Anthem's toured with Springsteen and Dave Matthews.)
Lyrically, singer Brian Fallon seems to have a similar approach to writing songs to fellow New Jersian Springsteen: they are about avarage Joes and Janes (with names like Joe, Jimmy and Mary). Easy to relate to.
In the break between opening act and headliners Petra and I enjoyed people watching. There were preppy boys, punk girls, skinny dudes, and full figured ladies. Age wise anything between high schoolers to young parents. And tattoos. Many people with tattoos.

When the foursome from New Jersey take to the stage the venue is positively buzzing: The Gaslight Anthem recently played Pinkpop and apparently made a good impression - despite the early hour (noon).
The boys were looking energetic and ready to convince more people to join their growing fanbase. The Effenaar was packed, and the emergency exits were opened in order to let fresh air in.
Despite the bad mixing the band sounded alright. Brian Fallon took several moments to talk to the audience, to thank them for seeing them on a rainy Tuesday night.
Petra and I had fun recognizing the two covers The Gaslight Anthem played as intro to two of their own songs: "Stand by me" and "What becomes of the broken hearted". (I'm not sure the younger folks in the audience got it, though.)

The only downside to the concert: they played a little over an hour (too short) but Petra and I had a good time and we both enjoyed the music. By the time we got outside it was raining. By the time I reached the city limits it was pouring. The longer I was driving south, the harder it seemed to be raining. I was definitely driving much slower than normal (as did most others). Halfway home it was raining down so hard all I could see was water streaming down, water in front of me (instead of road surface) and tail lights some 100 meters in front of me. By then I was driving the speed of a snail - with almost a dozen cars following me.

I was glad I drove instead of taking a train: a short walk from the venue to the train station would have soaked me to the bone. And I'm not sure a 30-minute-trainride and a second soak (10-minute-walk home) would have done to me... Anyhoo, all in all The Gaslight Anthem delivered.