A Tale of Three Bands

Over and over for about three decades folks have proclaimed the death of Rock and Roll, but I’m thoroughly convinced that good old-fashioned, guitar dominated rock and roll is in the midst of a golden age. I just watched the Bruce Springsteen, Live at Hyde Park DVD and it is amazing. I was at the actual concert in Hyde Park last year. At the age of 60 this man rocks! I’ve seen him play a few times over the decades and the show on that DVD is every bit as high energy, loud and exciting as those he did in the 90’s, 80’s and even the 70’s. You get wrapped up in a Springsteen concert like you might in a religious revival, and there are not at lot of artists who have been able to keep the intensity of a show at your favorite rock club, even as they began to play at bigger and bigger venues, right up stadiums and open air concerts in Hyde Park.

Not only are his live shows legendary, but each show is new and different. There is always a significant element of spontaneity and he never sticks to a preplanned setlist. He can keep it fresh because he’s constantly releasing new material. Indeed, in recent years he’s been releasing albums even more frequently, nearly every year since 2002. It’s surprising to notice the age range at his concerts, fans ranging from their 20s to their 60s! As long as Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are playing three hour plus concerts and Bruce keeps that new material coming, we don’t need to worry about the death of Rock and Roll.

Springsteen’s Hyde Park Concert was part of the June 28, 2009 edition of Hard Rock Calling. Another band that played that day was The Gaslight Anthem. Bruce joined them during their set for a a tune and lead singer Brian Fallon joined him, in turn. That was the first I’d heard of them, and I was much impressed. They’ve combined New Jersey Rock in the style of Springsteen or even Bon Jovi, with the punk rock sensibilities of The Clash, the Violent Femmes or even the Ramones. There’s also just a little bit of Rockabilly abandon. Like most Rock and Roll bands they also have their fair share of songs about Rock and Roll and its power.

Now they’ve just released a new album, American Slang, which is simply incredible. It’s real rock and roll that has to be played loud to be enjoyed. It’s guitar driven, heart pounding music for your stereo or your car sound system.

Gaslight Anthem’s albums have all been perfect soundtracks for a road trip, and this is not an exception. What’s different about this one is its mood. It’s is all about growing up, and accepting that you’re no longer young; not wallowing in nostalgia, but not losing the fire.

So don’t sing me your songs about the good times
Those days are gone and you should just let them go
And God help the man who says
If you’d have known me when
Old haunts are for forgotten ghosts
Old haunts are for forgotten ghosts

In fact, the lyrics on “We Did When We We Young” seem to be anti-nostalgia lyrics, a statement that perhaps the old days where not as great as we remember.
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Don’t write me no more letters, my mailbox is full of bombs
Between you and the crooks on my block
I don’t remember the good times, I wasn’t there when you were kind
And my wife has some dogs in our yard
And I cannot hold a candle for every pretty gun
we were strangers many hours, and I missed you for so long
When we were lions, lovers in combat
faded like your name on those jeans that I burned
But I am older now
And we did it when we were young

This is only their third full length record, but it shows a band comfortable with its sound and ready to evolve. Check this out. It’s one of the best albums released this year.

Then there’s Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses. You’ll most likely find Mescalito and Roadhouse Sun, the first two major releases by the band, in the country music section of your record store, but that is a somewhat misleading classification. This band is every bit as much a Rock and Roll band as it is a Country group, something that is especially evident on Roadhouse Sun, even more than on Mescalito.

He’s got a new album, Junky Star, releasing September 7. It’s produced by T Bone Burnett, who worked with Ryan on the Oscar winning song “The Weary Kind” from the movie Crazy Heart.  Two tracks are available on the artist’s site.  My prediction is that this will be their breakthrough disc.