Gaslight Anthem

“You’re never too old for the Pit”

The pit at the Ogden has seen a lot. Almost 100 years old they have played host to hundreds of acts, even Harry Houdini has played on the stage. Not only has it been a place for music and plays but it has been a movie theater also. The last movie to be played there was actually one of the greatest of my generation. The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Anyone out there still have the water Guns and rice ready?

Gaslight Anthem put on a show for the ages and hearing Tim Barry for the first time was awe-inspiring.

-Daniel B. on her very first concert-

At first I thought that the line up was a bit odd. Tim Barry, Chamberlain, and then Gaslight Anthem. It’s the same kind of music but different ways of getting it out. Like a week or so ago at the Hi-Dive, Tim Barry is a singer songwriter that plays acoustically all by himself, singing songs about everything from slavery, and domestic abuse, and jumping freight trains to travel cross country. You would almost think he was a classic country artist and it shows just where the roots of rock are. Tim is a throwback, telling stories about life that we can all understand and if it didn’t happen to us we know someone that it has happened to. Tim is a crowd pleaser and at one point he even unplugged, hopped off the stage and sang with the people.

Out of Indianapolis, Chamberlain has smoothed out their sound over time. Evolving from the outfit called Split Lip. The sound has gone from hardcore to a more strait up rock-n-roll. With music reminiscent of 70’s Springsteen, Seger, and a front man that has the moves that would make Axl Rose proud. Chamberlain has fun on stage and a brand of music that is made for kicking back with your girl and a beer.

Those of you that know me will under stand this. I can’t go to a show and sit on my A$$. I have to be where the people are. If it’s a theater type show and the whole room is seated that’s one thing but otherwise I’m right up front with the fans. I draw energy from it. How can I judge the reaction of the crowd unless I am right in the middle of it? I’m getting older now, I’m closer to 50 than I am 30 so I wasn’t sure I could stand on my own in the pit anymore. I know now. The answer is yes, even with the bumps and bruises and an elbow to the chin. Up on the balcony there were a few people bouncing so hard I thought the place would cave in.

That brings me to Gaslight Anthem. Coming off of a well deserved slot on the Tonight Show on Friday, they made it from L.A. in plenty of time for everyone to set up and get things going. Their sound is a smoking mixture of The Ramones and The Stray Cats that never slows down. It is how rock-n-roll is supposed to be played. Fast, raunchy and not watered down with a lot of extra BS that you typically hear today. Its blue collar music and if you haven’t lived it your probably not going to get it. Songs like American Slang and The ’59 Sound are fun stories of life set to music and played out on stage with a 1000 people helping out. Gaslight Anthem is a great band one of those acts that don’t come around very often, very talented, very worth seeing!

Gaslight Anthem, Tim Barry and Chamberlain at the Ogden