THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM AT STONE PONY SUMMER STAGE IN ASBURY PARK

There are some bands that have a truly unique and everlasting connection with their fans, and few have maintained such levels of loyalty quite like NJ rock band The Gaslight Anthem who, for decades, have engaged audiences with their anthemic, heartfelt and exhilarating songwriting and performances. While the band has been touring fairly frequently as of late, it’s been several years since they’ve played a show at the famed Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, the last time selling out 3 consecutive shows. The band finally returned to the venue recently to a very sold out crowd touring off their most recent album History Books, and delivered a passionate, soulful, and consistently exciting performance, serving as a strong showcase of their enduring appeal. Frontman Brian Fallon, who spent some time touring solo recently, felt as energized and vibrant as ever on stage and displayed an electric command of the band while investing genuine emotion into every aspect of each song. The unity and chemistry between each of the band members has been well-honed after decades together, but it was utterly mesmerizing to see how seamless and organic their connection was after all this time. The setlist was very well curated, offering both a strong mix of selections from their recent album History Books as well as classic cuts from albums such as The ‘59 Sound, with tracks like “Great Expectations”, “Here’s Lookin at You Kid”, and “The Backseat”, all of which sounded just as hard-hitting and resonant now as they ever did before. 

One of, if not the most, noteworthy aspects of the show was how appreciative Brian Fallon and the band were for the fans’ continued support and loyalty over the years, and the crowd’s passionate energy was truly admirable to see. Gaslight managed to craft a well-rounded set that included high-energy up-beat numbers and more intimate understated selections, and it’s a testament to their craft that each song fit perfectly and held the audience’s attention equally. As the night came to a close with a thrilling rendition of “Backseat”, The Gaslight Anthem more than solidified their status as one of the most captivating and immersive live bands out there. Their artistry, musicianship, and raw and honest performance style are just as vital and accomplished as ever, if not more so. For fans of the band both firmly established and fairly recent, the “History Books Tour” is truly an effective showcase of one of NJ’s most established bands at their very finest. For more information regarding upcoming shows and announcements be sure to follow Gaslight on all streaming and social media platforms, and for those attending Sea Hear Now festival this upcoming September, be sure to catch The Gaslight Anthem on the Sunday date as well!