08.30.24 – By Danielle Linneweber

The Gaslight Anthem returned to Minneapolis on Friday, August 30 for a solid night of rock and roll at The Fillmore while on their ‘History Books’ tour. This was at least the fourth time I’ve seen the New Jersey boys live since I discovered them in 2008 with the release of their album, The ‘59 Sound. Their gritty Jersey roots run deep. Give any one of their songs a listen and you’ll quickly understand that Bruce Springsteen is their biggest influence, so much so that he guests on the single “History Books” from the album of the same name that was released last year. Their catalog is full of driving rock anthems with pump-your-fist choruses that make every live show a raucous party with a very testosterone-driven crowd. Since Gaslight’s roots lean toward a rockabilly punk vibe, it makes sense that both openers brought their own brash and loud versions of punk to the stage.

The tiny lead singer of Pinkshift, Ashrita Kumar, kicked off the night with powerful, wailing vocals that were likely heard across the river in St. Paul. Kumar channeled equal parts Gwen Stefani from her No Doubt days and Hayley Williams from Paramore. The Baltimore band proved that a 7pm opener doesn’t have to be a sleeper as there was no chance that anyone was sleeping through that set with Kumar pogoing across the stage and belting out songs like “Home” and “Lullaby” that called back to the sounds of the late 90’s and early 2000’s, while encouraging everyone in the crowd to “be your pure selves.” 

Joyce Manor, from Torrance, California, followed Pinkshift with their bratty pop-style punk that generated a mosh pit full of young ‘uns who lost their minds to “House Warning Party.” The band’s songs ranged from one to two minutes long and had so many catchy choruses, I could barely keep up. Those short songs allowed them to cover a solid chunk of their surprisingly extensive catalog. They kicked things off with “Heart Tattoo” and blasted through other hits like “Constant Headache,” “21st Dead Rats,” “Falling in Love Again,” and “Dance with Me” before they topped it off with “Catalina Fight Song” and another ensuing mosh pit frenzy. I have no idea how they’ve flown under my radar all these years or how they haven’t gotten more radio play in their twelve-year career, but I’m onboard with all things Joyce Manor going forward. Just don’t look for me in the mosh pit. 

The Gaslight Anthem’s lead singer, Brian Fallon was in much better form on Friday compared to their 2022 stop at The Fillmore. He was sick at that show and his voice was almost gone, which was  disappointing for the fans who had been waiting at least seven years to see the band since they were last in town. His signature growl and gravelly voice were back in full effect this time around, thankfully. Fallon and the band were all about business as they blew through ten songs, including old favorites like “American Slang,” “45,” “Film Noir,” “We Came to Dance,” and “Handwritten,” before taking a quick breath to address the crowd. The band also peppered in newer songs off History Books, kicking off the show with the downbeat “Autumn.” “Spider Bites,” “Little Fires” and “Michigan, 1975” appeared later in the set. The newer material doesn’t pack quite the same driving punch as their older work, but still melded nicely into the set overall. 

Gaslight released the History Books (Short Stories) EP in March, which features a fast-paced, roaring version of Billie Eilish’s “Ocean Eyes.” I was hoping for that cover to pop up during the show, but no such luck. Fallon sang a few lines from Pink Floyd’s “Vera” but that was the only non-Gaslight reference to make the cut this time. The band kept their heads down and powered through the second half of the set, rounding out the one and a half hour show with crowd favorites, “Great Expectations,” “59 Sound” and “The Backseat.” There was no encore, despite fans hanging out by the stage in disbelief long after the lights came on, hoping for more. 

Gaslight always puts on a no-frills show and that’s what makes them so appealing. It’s also likely why they continue to have a strong following in the Twin Cities despite little airplay and taking a hiatus a few years ago. They are your quintessential Jersey rockers in their flannel shirts who get the job done without all the bells and whistles and send you on your way in your old white lincoln (actual Gaslight song title) with a satisfied smile on your face.