The Gaslight Anthem, with Fake Problems and Bridge And Tunnel
Monday, September 27 at The National
I got to this show late because I had class, so I missed Bridge and Tunnel. This was a huge disappointment for me, even though I’d seen them many times before. They are a hard working, remarkably talented band and it’s good to see that it is paying off for them in terms of getting to do some bigger tours–in addition to this tour with Gaslight Anthem, they recently did some dates with Propagandhi.
The Gaslight Anthem, with Fake Problems and Bridge And Tunnel
Monday, September 27 at The National
I got to this show late because I had class, so I missed Bridge and Tunnel. This was a huge disappointment for me, even though I’d seen them many times before. They are a hard working, remarkably talented band and it’s good to see that it is paying off for them in terms of getting to do some bigger tours–in addition to this tour with Gaslight Anthem, they recently did some dates with Propagandhi.
The other opening act was Gainesville, Florida’s Fake Problems. I’ve also seen this band live before, at the now defunct Artist Underground Cafe. They didn’t impress me then, and their transition to a larger venue didn’t do much to improve my impression this time around. They write boring, Against Me!-inspired rock songs (surprise, surprise, Gainesville), and though the singer has a somewhat flashy demeanor on stage, it comes off as more annoying than as a redemptive factor.
The Gaslight Anthem plays a classic style of rock n’ roll that draws a lot of comparisons to Bruce Springsteen and the Clash. Their image suits these comparisons–tattoos, white t-shirts, jeans, and slicked back hair go well with songs about cars, remembering Hank Williams, and the streets of New York. Though there wasn’t a threat of the show selling out, the crowd was large enough to provide a good energy. That being said, there are very few bands that most people want to watch for a full two hours, and Gaslight Anthem used up that entire time slot. They simply played too long, and it killed it for a lot of people, including me. I’m a big fun of this band’s songs, and they have a good live show. Front man Brian Fallon is genuine, and a bit of nervous talker. His interactions with the crowd would be more endearing in a smaller venue, but while the size of the National made his banter seem a bit awkward at times, I believe that his candor is an asset to the band.
This was the first show I’ve been to at the National where the quality of the sound left a lot to be desired. Uneven vocal levels and piercing feedback were an issue throughout the night, and it interrupted the flow of Gaslight Anthem’s set more than once. That said, I don’t think they can really blame anything but the length of their set for a less than riveting overall effect. I’d love to see them again–if they kept the set time down and played a venue that fit their draw a little better. Brian Fallon expressed a fondness for Richmond basements and bars such as Empire. I’m not suggesting they try any basement shows any time soon, but maybe bringing it down to a more intimate level could be a positive thing for this very talented band.
