If you’ve heard of the Gaslight Anthem, you’ve probably heard of Bruce Springsteen. While it’s the most obvious comparison, it’s well warranted. Out of New Jersey, the esteemed four piece play the kind of power punk that reminds you of being surrounded by your best friends. And on Thursday night at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, that’s what made up the crowd; a room chalk full of music lovers eager for a great time to share with one another.
As clouds of smoke filled the general admission crowd before the Gaslight Anthem took the stage, it was evident the anticipation surrounding the band had risen since the band’s last appearance in the city, last March. When they launched into “Old White Lincoln,” from their latest and most lauded LP, “the 59 Sound,” the first crowd surfer emerged, though it wouldn’t be the last. The Gaslight Anthem welcomed three bands to open for them in Vancouver, including Frank Turner, the Loved Ones and Murder By Death. They harnessed the collective energy of all three bands, playing a high-energy set that many young bands could have taken notes from.
Their brand of gut-punching rock and roll bridged a divide between pop and punk, highlighted by the title track off their latest record. Like a charging freight train, their tunes were full of power and emotion. “The ’59 Sound” brought those on the sidelines of the Commodore out of their seats. Drenched in hooks, the crowd couldn’t help but keep their arms extended towards the roof of the Commodore.
It was this bridge that held the crowd together. Soon, the Gaslight Anthem attempted to bridge the gap between the crowd and the stage, singing songs of blue-collar rock that would indeed make The Boss proud.
I saw many a drink topple over as they worked through their uplifting set. Though this might be the nature of a show at the Commodore, when they dedicated “Old White Lincoln” to a birthday girl, their hopeful, swirling punk took on a new soul. While rock and roll like theirs may be limited forever to the Commodore, it is a show not to be missed. But don’t worry, if the Gaslight Anthem take any cues from Bruce Springsteen, they’ll probably be playing together for a long, long time.
If you’ve heard of the Gaslight Anthem, you’ve probably heard of Bruce Springsteen. While it’s the most obvious comparison, it’s well warranted. Out of New Jersey, the esteemed four piece plays the kind of power punk that reminds you of being surrounded by your best friends. And at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, that’s what made up the crowd: a room full of music lovers eager for a great time to share with one another.
As clouds of smoke filled the general-admission crowd before the Gaslight Anthem took the stage, it was evident the anticipation surrounding the band had risen since its last appearance in the city in March. When they launched into “Old White Lincoln,” from their latest and most lauded LP, The ’59 Sound (Side One Dummy), the first crowd surfer emerged, though it wouldn’t be the last. The Gaslight Anthem welcomed three opening acts: Frank Turner, the Loved Ones and Murder By Death. The band harnessed the collective energy of all three artists, playing a high-energy set that many young groups could take notes from.
The Gaslight Anthem’s brand of gut-punching rock ‘n’ roll bridged a divide between pop and punk, highlighted by the title track off its latest album. Like a charging freight train, the band’s tunes were full of power and emotion. “The ’59 Sound” brought those on the sidelines of the Commodore out of their seats. Drenched in hooks, the crowd couldn’t help but keep their arms extended toward the roof. Soon, the Gaslight Anthem attempted to bridge the gap between the crowd and the stage, singing songs of blue-collar rock that would indeed make The Boss proud.
I saw many a drink topple over as the band worked through its uplifting set. Though this might be the nature of a show at the Commodore, when the Gaslight Anthem dedicated “Old White Lincoln” to a birthday girl, its hopeful, swirling punk took on a new soul. While rock ‘n’ roll like this may be limited forever to the Commodore, it is a show not to be missed. But don’t worry: If the Gaslight Anthem takes any cues from Springsteen, it will probably be playing together for a long, long time.
—Joshua Kloke
