Brian Fallon and the east coast US boys hit back this year with their fourth LP Handwritten, and they had something to prove.
They crashed the mainstream rock charts with their breakthrough sophomore album, The ‘59 Sound, laden with hulking riffs, sing-along choruses, and tales of escaping small town dead-end-ism through song and soul.
All of which had more than a hint of fellow NJ alumni Bruce Springsteen.
Their follow up, American Slang, was bigger, grander, more mainstream and scored chart success, but did little to dissuade critics from bashing their Boss-loving blueprint.
Handwritten, and its back-to-basics tunes about love – losing it and finding it – didn’t ditch their open highway, transistor-radio E-Street Band escapism, but frontman Fallon brought back emotionally honest storytelling that truly affected; where American Slang’s gloss got lost, this was a triumphant return, and these shows are sure to reflect that.
It’s been no small year either for BRS.
Third long player In Time To Voices saw the duo – singer/ guitarist Laura-Mary Carter and drummer Steven Ansell – back with a point to prove, to their fans, the music world and each other, after inter-band tensions threatened to derail their career.
A heavier, deeper record than before, it’s the perfect intro to Springst… sorry, The Gaslight Anthem.
Brixton Academy, 211 Stockwell Road, SW9 9SL
Mon, Oct 15 & Wed, oct 17 | Doors at 7pm | £21
Tube | Brixton
o2academybrixton.co.uk
