It's hard to believe it's been nearly ten years since The Gaslight Anthem last played shows in Australia.
After concluding touring their then-most recent record 'Get Hurt', the band parted ways in mid-2015, and fans on our side of the planet were left wondering when we would get to see our beloved New Jersey heroes again.There was a smattering of shows and a release of some B-side material from the band's 2008 record 'The ’59 Sound' during their hiatus before the news broke in 2022 they were reuniting.
Brian Fallon, their frontman, announced a sixth record, their first in nine years, followed by an extensive list of tour dates across the US and Europe. It would only be a matter of time, then, before the band would make their way back to Australia.
Image © Dylan Hewitson-Bevis
Although it's been over a year since 'History Books' was released, it feels like a sigh of relief The Gaslight Anthem chose to finalise their 'History Books' world tour with a trip to Australia.
Announced as part of the Good Things 2024 line-up, I was hoping for the band to play a sideshow here in Brisbane. Seeing one of America's finest rock & roll bands at Australia's biggest annual heavy festival would have been fitting, but true fans knew they needed to see the band play a full set, rather than one kneecapped by the usual limits of playing a festival slot.
It's testament to The Gaslight Anthem and how dedicated their fans are that they could play late on a Monday evening and still pack The Tivoli out (2 December). Good Things sideshows are often on work nights, but that will never deter someone like me from showing up.
Being 14 years old and too young to buy a ticket the last time the band was here, I knew I couldn't miss out. I couldn't have asked for a better set list, either.
The band raced right out of the gate with 'Great Expectations', the opening track from their classic 'The '59 Sound'. Filled with lyrics referencing Bob Seger and wide-eyed dreams of bigger things, it was a perfect stage setting for what was going to be a career-spanning set list.
Image © Dylan Hewitson-Bevis
Next were 'American Slang' and 'Biloxi Parish', and it was clear the band were intending to play not only their hits but the tracks that resonated the most with fans.
As a band who wear their nostalgia for the old days of rock & roll proudly on their sleeves, it was a pleasure getting to watch Brian Fallon and the band revisit their extensive back catalogue.
From 'History Books', The Gaslight Anthem chose to only play the lead single 'Positive Charge' and the softer cut 'Michigan, 1975', opting instead to deep dive into 'The '59 Sound' and 2012's 'Handwritten'. Being able to hear old favourites of mine like 'Mae' was a real treat, too.
Forgoing an encore, the band instead chose to close out their set without any breaks, launching into their most popular songs. It's fair to say most Gaslight Anthem fans found their way to the band's music through the song 'The '59 Sound', and it got the biggest reception of the evening.
Image © Dylan Hewitson-Bevis
They finished with 'The Backseat', an emotional track that always seems to catch in Fallon's throat if any of the countless live performances available on YouTube are anything to go by.
However, instead of tears in his eyes, Fallon was floating a few feet off the ground with an incredible grin across his face. For a band so focused on nostalgia and 'the good ol' days', it seems Fallon is beginning to realise those days might not be behind him just yet.
More photos from the concert.
