It’s been four years since the members of The Gaslight Anthem – Brian Fallon (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Alex Rosamilia (lead guitar, backing vocals), Alex Levine (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Benny Horowitz (drums, percussion) – hit the music and tour circuit together, and after posting teasers and building much hype, they just announced their reunion as a band, and their return to the world stage.
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The Gaslight Anthem's Distinct Sound
According to a previous "Pitchfork" article, the New Brunswick, New Jersey-based rock band is known for their unique charm. Throughout the five albums they released together between 2007 and 2014, they’ve appealed to the emo crowd, but also asserted their own Elvis-Greaser flair with old-school lyrics and style, cementing their multi-faceted spot on the music scene. They've also been compared to Social Distortion, as well, and the article also described their sound as “bruised-growl retro punk.”
The band also shares a friendship and is frequently compared with fellow New Jersey-bred rock legend Bruce Springsteen. The band even previously played as direct support for Springsteen in 2009 at Hyde Park Calling, in Hyde Park, London.
Their hit album “The ’59 Sound” showcases that flair, with lyrical topics including Audrey Hepburn, nostalgic films, such as in their song, “Film Noir,” and classic cars, including their song “Even Cowgirls Get The Blues,” showcasing bluesy riffs.
Before this hiatus that they just ended, the band took a previous pause in 2015 and returned to the scene in 2018 to play a reunion tour for that album.
Their music style is a sound that fans have missed during both hiatus stints.
The Gaslight Anthem Shares Reunion News
The band’s Instagram page, newly-minted and refreshed, now boasts a brand-new six posts. The band’s fans were met with excitement, when the band posted for the first time in years, a week ago. The first of the new posts, a teaser, revealed a black screen playing noises of a projector, and car noises, which many fans took to mean that the band was back in studio. Other fans thought the noise was of an “Old White Lincoln,” referencing the band’s song off of their “’59 Sound Album.”
Subsequent posts, revealing added elements to a projector, screen, and image of the band together smiling on the screen, built up the continued necessary hype to reveal the band’s original lineup reunion and tour, for when they shared the big news.
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One fan commented, “YOU ARE CREATING SOME GREAT EXPECTATIONS WITH THESE TEASERS,” as a nod to the group’s song also called “Great Expectations.”
After building up the hype, the band teased in a caption that they were hoping not to disappoint fans with the lack of a documentary film or album reunion.
The post read, “Hello everyone, Brian here. I hate to disappoint you, but I need to inform you that there will not be a 10th-anniversary Handwritten Tour, or a documentary film…” The post continued, “However, I am very pleased to announce to you all that The Gaslight Anthem is returning to full-time status as a band. We’ll be announcing a lot of tour dates in the next couple of days. We’re also beginning to write new songs for what will be our sixth LP. We’re very much looking forward to the future and seeing you all again. We want to thank you for staying with us. Stay tuned! - Brian, Ben, Alex, and Alex.”
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Immediately after posting about the reunion, nearly 30,000 fans liked the post, and it was met with nearly 3,000 comments.
Fans React To The Gaslight Anthem’s Reunion
Dashboard Confessional – the seminal rock and emo band led by Chris Carrabba, was no stranger in sharing their excitement for the reunion tour, as they commented, “Yesssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!” on the post.
Other fans commented, “THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN” and “There aren’t words to express the level of joy this brings to us! We love all of you and so look forward to what comes next!!!”
Many fans, although ecstatic about the reunion, are also hopeful in calling for New Jersey-based dates on the tour to cheer on their hometown heroes and sing their hearts out to every word.
The Gaslight Anthem’s “World Tour 2022” is set to stop through the U.S., Germany, and United Kingdom starting August 9 through October 5 with support bands Tigers Jaw and Jeff Rosenstock on various dates. More information can be found here: https://www.thegaslightanthem.com/
