SONG: "1930"
ARTIST: The Gaslight Anthem
ALBUM: "Sink Or Swim"
YEAR: 2007
PLACE OF ORIGIN: New Brunswick, New Jersey
YEARS ACTIVE: 2006 - present
WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:
"1930" was a song written by The Gaslight Anthem frontman Brian Fallon about his grandmother who passed away after her battle with Alzheimer's disease. The song definitely hits home as my mother was diagnosed with the same terrible disease. The last verse in the song kills me. I'll just quote it. "If I recall the last thing you said to me. Before it broke up, before it took you from me. And you said, I love you more than the stars in the sky. But your name just escapes me tonight." Just heartwrenching knowing that there's a very good chance when this disease takes my mom, she may not remember me :(
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
2007 - Sink Or Swim (XOXO Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2008 - The '59 Sound (SideOneDummy Records)
* peaked at #70 on the Billboard 200 on 9-6-08
2010 - American Slang (SideOneDummy Records)
* peaked at #16 on the Billboard 200 on 7-3-10
2012 - Handwritten (Mercury Records)
* peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 on 8-11-12
2014 - The B-Sides (SideOneDummy Records)
* peaked at #82 on the Billboard 200 on 2-15-14
2014 - Get Hurt (Island Records)
* peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 on 8-30-14
2018 - The '59 Sound Sessions (SideOneDummy Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
MY THOUGHTS ON THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM:
The Gaslight Anthem are a Jersey band that formed back in 2006. The band's debut album, 2007's "Sink Or Swim", garnered the band some buzz on the independent circuit. They would soon sign a deal with famous punk label SideOneDummy records to release two monster albums, 2008's "The '59 Sound" and 2010's "American Slang". "The '59 Sound" really put The Gaslight Anthem on the map and it was obvious to many that ever imagined, hmm... what would Bruce Springsteen sound like if he were in a punk band?! Well, it would most likely sound like The Gaslight Anthem! "Bring It On" from their "American Slang" album is to this day my favorite track by the band. Sooo damn good!! The band signed a one off record deal with major label Mercury for their 2012 release "Handwritten", which would be their highest charting record, peaking at #3 on the Billboard 200. Their next release, through Island Records, "Get Hurt" would peak one spot lower at #4. In 2015, the band announced they were going on an indefinite hiatus. Lead vocalist and chief songwriter Brian Fallon embarked on a successful solo career during this time. In 2018, the band got back together for a small tour to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of "The '59 Sound". The band went back on hiatus after this tour and there was really no sense that they would ever get back together to create new music. But wait.... there's more. In March of 2022, The Gaslight Anthem announced that they were back, full steam with tour dates planned and eager to get to work on a new album as well!! Oh joyous day!! At their roots, The Gaslight Anthem are a punk rock band, but they are much more than that. Their sound has continued to evolve and Brian Fallon has really become quite the songwriter. While punk rock bands like The Clash are definitely influences, there is also the obvious Bruce Springsteen influence as well as Pearl Jam, who is Fallon's favorite band. Gaslight had once in a lifetime moments by having Springsteen join them on stage in 2009 to help out on "The '59 Sound" as well as Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder joining them in Florida to perform a cover of that band's "State Of Love And Trust". I first heard of The Gaslight Anthem when I heard the song "The '59 Sound". I thought it was such a different vibe and it really made me feel that rock and roll still has a heartbeat. In my mind, these guys should be huge. They just write great songs and it totally baffles me how these guys aren't household names. I think they've put out some of the best music period in the last 10 to 15 years. I'm so psyched that these guys have put the band back together and I can't wait for new music and I have to see these guys live when they come around Boston!
SIMILAR ARTISTS:
The Horrible Crowes
The Menzingers
Dave Hause
Chuck Ragan
The Loved Ones
TEN THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Bring It On
2. The '59 Sound
3. Handwritten
4. Tumblin' Dice (The Rolling Stones cover)
5. American Slang
6. I'da Called You Woody, Joe
7. Boxer (acoustic version)
8. 45
9. Great Expectations
10. Rollin' And Tumblin'
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