Tag: reviews

Live review: The Gaslight Anthem at the Roundhouse London [24 March 2024]

On By markosgigarchiveIn gig reviewLeave a comment

Support was from Texan Emily Wolfe, who came on later and played on two of the Gaslight Anthem’s songs. She can defo play guitar but the music wasn’t for me so I’ll skip her slot and get to the main attraction.

Brian looked way different to the last time I saw them almost exactly 10 years ago.  He’s got long unkempt hair, he’s put on some timber (middle aged spread 😊) and he’s wearing a Black Sabbath Vol 4 t-shirt – a nod to greatness.  They are across the pond for the UK/EU ‘History Books’ tour and this is the 1st of three nights at the Roundhouse which attests to their enduring popularity.  Tonight’s sell-out crowd of die-hard fans is buzzing with excitement, and a huge roar hits the band as they get on stage and launch full on into ‘Positive Charge’ from their latest LP.  Swiftly followed by ‘Hand Written’ and ‘Old White Lincoln’ the crowd are stomping, waving, jumping and singing along in unison.

In fairness Brian could just have played rhythm guitar all night as it seemed like the vocal crowd knew all the words to every song they played and sang along continuously – a sight to behold – a truly religious experience of sorts.

New Jersey’s finest are Brian Fallon – Vocals, rhythm guitar; Alex Rosamilia – guitar, Alex Levine – bass; Benny Horowitz – drums with touring members Ian Perkins (rhythm guitar, keyboards) Bryan Haring – keyboards.

The Majority of tonight’s set is from ‘The 59 Sound’ and ‘Handwritten’ with some nice surprises from their early days from ‘Señor and the Queen’ and ‘Sink or Swim’ (check the set list).  Basically loads of crowd favourites, let’s face it they have a top back catalogue to choose from, supplemented by 3 songs from the new LP ‘History Books’ and a couple from ‘Get Hurt’.  It appears that they change the set list most nights which is great news for fans who may have bought tickets for a couple of shows and also for the band as I guess it gets kind of boring (and would sap your enthusiasm) playing the same songs over and over night after night.

The Gaslight Anthem Set List (click on link to watch the video)

  1. Positive Charge (History Books, 2023)
  2. Handwritten (Handwritten 2012)
  3. Old White Lincoln (The ’59 Sound, 2008)
  4. Biloxi Parish (Handwritten 2012)
  5. Red Violins (Get Hurt, 2014)
  6. High Lonesome (The ’59 Sound, 2008)
  7. The Patient Ferris Wheel (The ’59 Sound, 2008)
  8. Mulholland Drive (Handwritten 2012)
  9. Here’s Lookin’ At You Kid (The ’59 Sound, 2008)
  10. The Spirit of Jazz (American Slang, 2010)
  11. 1930 (Sink or Swim 2007)
  12. Halloween (Get Hurt, 2014)
  13. I Coul’da Been A Contender (Sink or Swim 2007)
  14. The Weatherman (History Books, 2023)
  15. Blue Jeans & White T-Shirts (Señor and the Queen, 2008)
  16. Howl (Handwritten 2012)
  17. Mae (Handwritten 2012)
  18. Michigan, 1975 (History Books, 2023)
  19. Great Expectations (The ’59 Sound, 2008)
  20. 45 (Handwritten 2012)
  21. The ’59 Sound (The ’59 Sound, 2008)

Brian only interacts with the audience a couple of times during the show as one punkier classic rock slab blends into another for more joyous crowd revelry.  Comparisons with Bruce are inevitable, Brian certainly owes a debt of gratitude to the Boss but IMHO I prefer The Gaslight Anthems more up tempo beat and lyrics reflecting on times long gone by or just storytelling.

The sound was a bit too hazy for my liking (vocals didn’t stand out) and the lighting a bit hit and miss – too many red/blue hues but just a slight grumble. 

The show is interspersed with a few slower tunes – ‘Blue Jeans & White T-Shirts’, ‘Mae’ and ‘Here’s Lookin’ At You Kid’ which turned into a total reverie sing-along!  My personal favourites were ‘The Spirit of Jazz’ and the final 3 blistering tunes of ‘Great Expectations’, ‘45’ and ‘The 59 Sound’.  Everyone, including the band, had smiles on their faces.  A truly euphoric 90 mins of delightful driving rhythms powerfully resonating with the ordained crowd.

Marko [ 27 March 2024]

Review: The Tiger Lillies – Lessons in Nihilism @ Wilton’s Music Hall [27 Feb 2024]

On By markosgigarchiveIn gig review1 Comment

This is the 5th time I’ve seen The Tiger Lillies and once again have left with a smile on my face (only just mind as their ‘assistant’ David Hoyle was extremely irritating and added nothing to the music imho – but more of that later).

The music speaks for itself – vaudeville for the modern age, cabaret with a twist, avant garde Brechtian with eastern European gypsy leanings. Martyn Jacques is both the leader and writer of all the dystopian songs of love, death, drugs, hookers, colourful characters, dark macabre and seedy underbelly of life in the world of sub culture.  All those early years living above a whore house in Soho certainly did the trick (wink 😊).

Tonight the trio consist of:

  • Martyn Jacques: vocals, accordion, piano, ukulele
  • Adrian Stout: double bass, theremin, musical saw, jaw harp
  • Budi Butenop: drums, percussion

They are doing a short residency at Wilton’s Music Hall (20th Feb to 2nd March) in support of their new album ‘Lessons in Nihilism’ and played it in its entirety over two sets 19:30 – 20:20 and 20:40 – 21:30.  So more new twisted songs for the majority of the very diverse audience to engage with.

After every 2 or 3 songs the band sat down and we had to listen to a, thankfully relatively short, boring unfunny diatribe about politics, war, gender, and society from Blackpool’s very own David Hoyle.  Old queens never die they just get sadder I guess.  Even worse he bloody well sang a song assisted by Adrian on theremin.  Whatever the reason for having him on the bill is completely lost on me as it had nothing to do with the excellent music the band was playing and added nothing to the evening.  I’d rather have the band play more songs after all they have a huge back catalogue of excellent songs. 

As always the band were immaculately dressed suits, hats and grease-painted circus faces. Adrian and Budi had similar makeup accentuating their lines to almost Halloween skeletal appearance while Martyn had panda like face paint.  He wore a FCK PTN sticker (wonder what side he’s on 😊) on his bowler hat and cut and an imposing figure.  Occasional glimpses of his long pony tail flowing down his back during the quicker moments of accordion mayhem.

Most songs lead with the accordion with just a few guitar led ones such as the ghostly ‘Dying Clown’ accompanied by Adrian on theremin and Budi on washboard.  Unusual instruments of the day were Martyn’s 18” mini guitar in reverse (alas no pics) and Adrian playing the musical saw which had a wooden skull handle – top stuff!! Even the jaw harp made an appearance on one song.

‘Gone Wrong’ and ‘Come on Down’ are good old foot stomping gypsy based tunes.  Lots of sad melancholy soulful tunes too such as ‘Rest in Peace’ and ‘Time to Die’ are great vehicles for Martyn’s distinctive high falsetto voice.  ‘Disintegrate’ starts off Gypsy style then goes off into improvised Jazzy passages with the band giving it all they had.

The Tiger Lillies @ Wiltons Music Hall
The Tiger Lillies @ Wiltons Music Hall
The Tiger Lillies @ Wiltons Music Hall
The Tiger Lillies @ Wiltons Music Hall
The Tiger Lillies @ Wiltons Music Hall
The Tiger Lillies @ Wiltons Music Hall

I bought the CD and have been listening to it constantly while writing this piece.  It’s an excellent album, stark realism and great lyrics.  I highly recommend listening to it in the dark with a bottle or two of something by your side!

Set list

  1. Gone Wrong
  2. Bleached Earth
  3. Dying Clown
  4. Come on Down
  5. Time to Die
  6. Celebrity
  7. Disintegrate
  8. Blamed
  9. Rest in Peace
  10. No Sin
  11. Disease
  12. Kick a Baby (Urine Palace, 2007)
  13. Banging in the Nails (The Brothel to the Cemetery, 1998)

To finish off we had the excellent ‘Kick a Baby’ and ‘Banging in the Nails’ the latter of which had Budi doing a protracted drum solo which was rather good given his small drum kit.

It’s always a pleasure watching The Tiger Lillies – a truly one of a kind band and experience.  I was lucky enough to have my CD signed by the band as well as a few photos with them.  Thanks chaps keep it up.  Can’t wait till next time you are in London.

Marko [28 Feb 2024]