Alex Rosamilia - The Gaslight Anthem (07/05/2013)
Midway through my interview with guitarist Alex Rosamilia, it becomes clear to me that nothing can get in the way of stopping New Jersey's The Gaslight Anthem from conquering the music industry, one record at a time.
Last year, The Gaslight Anthem released Handwritten, their fourth LP, and their first after signing with a new label, Mercury Records after leaving SideOneDummy, who had helmed their sophomore and third LP, The 59' Sound and American Slang respectively.
Despite how most label departures tend to go down, there were no hard feelings between the band and label. The Gaslight Anthem's decision for departure was to allow growth and a chance to do new things as a band.
"The guys at SideOneDummy have actually been really supportive of us," Alex says, while reaction from both fans and critics alike has been positive, with the album reaching #14 on the ARIA charts.
Handwritten shows a much more melancholic side to The Gaslight Anthem that fans had not experienced before through their previous releases. From the first single 45, to the incredible and straight out of left-field closing track, National Anthem, recording of Handwritten allowed for a lot of personal moments to seep into the record.
"With National Anthem, Brian (Fallon, vocalist/guitarist) came in to the studio and said he wanted to play a song for us that he'd written, and when he did, we realised that it was perfect just the way it was. We didn't need to add anything to it".
While The Gaslight Anthem have visited Australia twice during their career as a band, demand has been high for a third visit.
Their Soundwave appearances in 2011 were considered highlights of the festival, with vocalist Brian Fallon using time during their Melbourne festival set to praise and tribute the now closed Arthouse venue, the host of their first Melbourne show in 2008. Fallon touched on the importance of live music venues and gig culture, an issue many are passionate about, but has been deeply contested in Australia over the past few years.
Now, with the 2013 tour selling out venues across the country, The Gaslight Anthem will drop by our shores with a little help from their friends, specifically, The Loved Ones' vocalist, Dave Hause, who will open all shows on the tour.
"Dave's such a good friend of ours, and we love his work," Alex says. "We're really excited to have him join us on tour with us, you guys are going to love him".
While The Gaslight Anthem are bringing Dave along for the ride, in the past they've been lucky enough to have shared the stage with everybody from Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder to New Jersey hometown hero Bruce Springsteen. When all is said and done though, Alex still has an artist or two to cross off from his music collaboration bucket list.
"David Bowie," he says with a laugh, "If you get to work with Bowie, you're living the dream".
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM TOUR DATES
FRIDAY 10 MAY BRISBANE, THE TIVOLI – 18+ SOLD OUT
SUNDAY 12 MAY SYDNEY, ENMORE THEATRE – Lic A/A
TUESDAY 14 MAY MELBOURNE, THE PALACE – 18+
WEDNESDAY 15 MAY MELBOURNE, THE PALACE – 18+ SOLD OUT
FRIDAY 17 MAY ADELAIDE, HQ – 18+
SUNDAY 19 MAY PERTH, METRO CITY – 18+
Luke Sutton
@lukesutton
Last year, The Gaslight Anthem released Handwritten, their fourth LP, and their first after signing with a new label, Mercury Records after leaving SideOneDummy, who had helmed their sophomore and third LP, The 59' Sound and American Slang respectively.
Despite how most label departures tend to go down, there were no hard feelings between the band and label. The Gaslight Anthem's decision for departure was to allow growth and a chance to do new things as a band.
"The guys at SideOneDummy have actually been really supportive of us," Alex says, while reaction from both fans and critics alike has been positive, with the album reaching #14 on the ARIA charts.
Handwritten shows a much more melancholic side to The Gaslight Anthem that fans had not experienced before through their previous releases. From the first single 45, to the incredible and straight out of left-field closing track, National Anthem, recording of Handwritten allowed for a lot of personal moments to seep into the record.
"With National Anthem, Brian (Fallon, vocalist/guitarist) came in to the studio and said he wanted to play a song for us that he'd written, and when he did, we realised that it was perfect just the way it was. We didn't need to add anything to it".
While The Gaslight Anthem have visited Australia twice during their career as a band, demand has been high for a third visit.
Their Soundwave appearances in 2011 were considered highlights of the festival, with vocalist Brian Fallon using time during their Melbourne festival set to praise and tribute the now closed Arthouse venue, the host of their first Melbourne show in 2008. Fallon touched on the importance of live music venues and gig culture, an issue many are passionate about, but has been deeply contested in Australia over the past few years.
Now, with the 2013 tour selling out venues across the country, The Gaslight Anthem will drop by our shores with a little help from their friends, specifically, The Loved Ones' vocalist, Dave Hause, who will open all shows on the tour.
"Dave's such a good friend of ours, and we love his work," Alex says. "We're really excited to have him join us on tour with us, you guys are going to love him".
While The Gaslight Anthem are bringing Dave along for the ride, in the past they've been lucky enough to have shared the stage with everybody from Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder to New Jersey hometown hero Bruce Springsteen. When all is said and done though, Alex still has an artist or two to cross off from his music collaboration bucket list.
"David Bowie," he says with a laugh, "If you get to work with Bowie, you're living the dream".
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM TOUR DATES
FRIDAY 10 MAY BRISBANE, THE TIVOLI – 18+ SOLD OUT
SUNDAY 12 MAY SYDNEY, ENMORE THEATRE – Lic A/A
TUESDAY 14 MAY MELBOURNE, THE PALACE – 18+
WEDNESDAY 15 MAY MELBOURNE, THE PALACE – 18+ SOLD OUT
FRIDAY 17 MAY ADELAIDE, HQ – 18+
SUNDAY 19 MAY PERTH, METRO CITY – 18+
Luke Sutton
@lukesutton