INTERVIEWTHE GASLIGHT ANTHEM
by Christer Davidsson, December 2007
The Gaslight Anthem is one of the best bands I've heard this year. The band released their debut album "Sink Or Swim" on XOXO Record in may and it's one of the best debut albums I've heard ever. Yet another band that proves that some of the best music in the world comes from New Jersey. I did this interview with the band's singer Brian Fallon and here's how it turned out...
First off, tell me how you guys got together?
We all got together through knowing each other around the New Brunswick area. Alex, the bassplayer, is my brother in law, so Ive known him for a while.
For how long have you been playing music as The Gaslight Anthem?
We've been playing together for two years now.
Tell me about te name of the band. What does it me and how did you come up with it?
The Gaslight was an old club in New York City in the 60's where Bob Dylan and several other folk singers got started, so the Anthem was tacked on for the collective idea.
I had a feeling that it had something to do with that. How would you describe the band to people who haven't had the chance to check you out yet?
We're a punk rock band playing soul music the best we can.
Yeah, the word soul came up a lot when I did research on you your band. Do you consider yourselves a soul band in a way?
Yeah, we do. We consider ourselves a sould band 100%. I mean, in the 60's and 70's with Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, they all took gospel and rock'n'roll and mixed it. The rock'n'roll was very modern back then and the gospel was traditional. So, with us the punk rock in our band is the modern "Rock'n'roll" and sould is in place of the gospel, though, there's a little gospel music in The Gasligt Anthem. I'ma very big Aretha Franklin fan so yeah, we're a soul band. It's just a new form of sould music.
When I first heard "I'da Call You Woody Joe" from your new record "Sink or Swim" I was absolutely blown away. You guys sure know how to write songs. Can you describe the song-writing process of the band?
It's a very guarded ancient secret, we can't say... But, it involves Elvis Presley and Coca Cola.
That particular song is a tribute to the late Joe Strummer. Can you give me stoy behind the song. What did Joe and The Clash mean to you guys?
Well, we're all big Clash fans, but when I was about 14 I was in this local record store and the guy at the counter told me I had never heard real punk rock. So, he bought me the The Clash's first record out of his own money. I took it home and it blew me away! Totally changed how I viewed what could be done in the confines of a specific genre.
There's a video for that song as well as another one for "Drive". What can you tell me about those two? How important are music videos for bands nowadays?We have a great film-maker, Kevin Slack, that we were fortunate enough to work with on both videos and he did a very good job for us. The two videos we have show our areas at home in New Jeresey for different periods of time. "Drive", which was done first, was in New Brunswick at a basement show. "Woody, Joe" was done in Asbury Park, where I spend most of my waking hours. I think music videos are important but I don't think they're as important as they were five years ago. I think the live show is where it's at now and really always has been.
The album "Sink or Swim" was put by XOXO records in may this year. How has it been recieved by crowds and critics so far?
So far, we've gotten amazing reviews, I can count on one hand the bad press. It's really amazing and we're all really greatful. There's nothing we can really take credit for in all the warm reviews and crowd responses because there's a lot of great bands, better ones than us, who don't get even close to the same amount of positive responses from reviews and crowds. We're really fortunate to be accepted the way we are.
So, h ow did you hook up with XOXO Records?
One of my old bands was was on the label and Jason loved Gaslight so we did a record together. We're all actually old friends with Jason.
What can you tell me about This Charming Man?
This Charming Man was the old band I was in on XOXO Records. Kind of a precursor to The Gaslight Anthem, short lived.
The thing that strikes me about your music is that you don't have any "fill-out" songs on the record. I mean, the songs are all extremely good. Most of the time there's a few "not-so-good" songs included when bands make fullength's. Did you work a long time on this album?
We worked about six months on the writing, not all in a row. We toured a bunch as well, but the writing process went pretty smooth for us. We're very strict with ourselves in quality control for the songs but we just did what we felt.
Well, I think it turned out fantastic. Which songs are your favorites on "Sink Or Swim" and why?
Thanks! My favorites off of "Sink or Swim" are "Wooderson" and "Navesink Banks", because they're really personal songs lyricly for me and both are about my hometown, so it always reminds me of home where ever we might be playing the songs live. I remember the "locality" of the lyrics almost bringing on a new meeting while we were in Europe this fall.
I really like the artwork of the record. Who's the designer?
C. Spleidt did the artwork, he's amazing. Check his stuff out at www.plasticfly.net!
If someone asked me what kind of music you guys are playing I'd probably have a hard time explainging it. You have a bunch of different influences from all kinds of music. Could you mention some of your biggest inspirations?
Seperately we're all into very different music. I'm really big on the songwriters like Springsteen & Dylan. benny loves hardcore and Zeppelin. Alex is really into The Cure and the other Alex (Levine) comes from the Small Brown Bike school.
These past few months I've been listening to almost nothing but music from New Jersey and especially New Brunswick. Static Radio, The Measure, Ratchets, Degenerics, Seasick... Let's get this straight once and for all. How come all these great bands are from Jersey? What is it about the state and New Brunswick that makes the music so good?
It's the expactations I think. If you come from the central Jersey area you don't even start a band unless you believe you can stand up to the bands from there. I mean, there's The Fire Still Burns, The Bouncing Souls, Scream Hello.. tons of great bands. Quality control is the secret.
Even though you've only put out one LP so far you've had the chance to play in Europe already. Did you like it over here? When can we expect you to play on european soil again?Oh Europe treated us very well! We'll be back early next year I'm sure, but a full european tour this time. We have a great agent over there from Gunner Records.
Talking about shows, you played at The Fest this year, right?
Yes sir.
From what I've heard The Fest in Gainsville, FL is like the peak of the year when it comes to punk and hardcore. Can you tell me a little bit more about the event?
Every band you ever wanted to see in one place! And everyone is amazing! Seriously one of the most fun times I ever had in my life. Don't miss next year!
Have you guys started to write new stuff for upcoming releases yet? I think I read something about a new 7" coming out in february.
We have started to write our second LP which should be out next fall, 2008. We also have a new double 7"/ CD coming out on Sabot Productions called "Senor & The Queen". It's definitely soul music :)! The release date is January 29th, 2008.
What can you tell me about This Charming Man?
This Charming Man was the old band I was in on XOXO Records. Kind of a precursor to The Gaslight Anthem, short lived.
Anything you'd like to say to the MUTINYZINE readers while you still have the chance?
Check out a lot of bands, don't get discouraged with the lack of substance in mainstream music lately. Look underground, look in other genres, keep your ears to the ground. There's diamonds in the rough...
Ok, Brian, thanks a lot for answring my questions and Good Luck!
Thank you very much Christer! Hopefully we'll see you very soon!