Shazam Meets… The Gaslight Anthem
This week sees the release of the third album from New Jersey rock band The Gaslight Anthem. ‘American Slang’ follows on from the bands breakthrough album ‘The ’59 Sound’ which received great critical acclaim and saw the band play to huge crowds in various festivals across the globe. Their status was helped in part by the patronage of one Bruce Springsteen, who picked the band to support him at his Hyde Park Calling show. If this accolade wasn’t enough, The Boss pulled up lead singer Brian Fallon to join the legendary singer for a joint rendition of ‘No Surrender’ – something that was repeated during Springsteen’s jaw dropping Glastonbury set last summer.
Their blend of Jersey Shore rock combined with punk sensibilities has certainly struck a chord with their burgeoning fanbase. A fact that was confirmed by a dramatic increase in venue size for their forthcoming London show – such was the demand for tickets. ‘American Slang’ once again showcases the bands ability to be anthemic without being overly pompous – proof that songs can unite the masses without being overly sentimental.
We managed to speak to guitarist Alex Rosamilia about the new album and his love of the classic English breakfast.
How do you feel about the shift in venue from The Kentish Town Forum to The Brixton Academy? Do you think the buzz from your last show at the Forum, plus the anticipation for the new album has taken off more than you thought it would?
To be totally honest, I hadn’t even thought about it until now. I guess so.
Your new album ‘American Slang’ is out in a couple of weeks. Where did the term originate?
Some secrets are better left alone, right? I don’t want to ruin all of the magic. Not to sound like a hippie, but without an explanation, it can be anything. When it has a definition, it’s only that one thing.
How important to Gaslight Anthem were American Punk and Hardcore bands like The Replacements in the formation of your sound from the pre ‘Sink Or Swim’ (the bands first album) years up to ‘American Slang’?
Personally, I was never really a Replacements fan until well after I joined the band. Punk and Hardcore were what, I guess, brought us together in the beginning. It’s also a mentality that we still have today. That idea of ‘if you want to get something done, you have to just go out and do it’, you know?
How important is it to Gaslight to write songs that have an everyman, grounded appeal?
I’m not really sure I know what that means, but we’ve never tried to write with a specific purpose in mind. What we do when we write isn’t really a process. Again, not to sound like a hippie, but it is more of a natural thing.
Ted Hutt produced American Slang, after he successfully helped shape your sound on ‘The ’59 Sound’. To what extent do you consider Hutt an integral part of the current Gaslight sound in his role as producer?
The producer has just as much to do with the sound of a band as anything else, and I think, at least for the last record and this one, he had the same idea that we did. The other thing that Ted is really good at is adapting to what best suits who he’s talking to. It’s actually an amazing thing to watch.
Many in the U.K identify with your sound as it represent the escapist American dream, conjuring images from the cinema screen and classic freewheeling rock bands. When growing up did you ever look across the ocean to the U.K – and in particular London - for inspiration?
I’ve actually always been a bit of an anglophile. I don’t know what it was about it, but I’ve just always liked things better when it came from the UK. Music, movies, TV. Even food. I’d kill to be able to get a proper full English breakfast back in the States. Most, if not all, of my musical inspiration comes from the other side of the pond too.
What are your favourite songs to play live?
All of them. It wouldn’t be any fun if I could only play one song….
And your favourite cities to play?
It’s hard to say. Every place we play, the crowd and the city is so different, that it’s hard to really pick a favorite. I’m a big tourist too, so I can always find something to do, or at make the city memorable.
How does the U.K crowd compare to fans in the U.S?
It’s like comparing apples and oranges. Two totally different types of crowds. I don’t even think you could generalize that much for either the US or the UK. Like I said, cities are different in the same country. So, I don’t think you can really even have a typical or average “US fan” or “UK fan”. The world’s too big for the beat of just one drum, y’know?
‘American Slang’ is currently available on iTunes.
