Brian Fallon Talks Comparisons, Giving Up Bread, and What Makes New Jersey Great

The Gaslight Anthem is, by far, one of my favorite bands to come out of the early-ish ’00s. Whether it’s the overarching connectedness to the everyman in their lyrics, the swirling guitar melodies that almost don’t fit into a punk rock song or the constant nod to their musical influences, there’s always been something there that grabs me.

Following their watermark 2008 LP The ’59 Sound though, it’s been kind of up and down for the group from central New Jersey. Frontman Brian Fallon was dogged by Bruce Springsteen comparisons relentlessly by critics and the unit as a whole went on multiple hiatuses in the meantime. They returned last fall with the excellent History Books and, in a new interview with Fallon for Vanyaland, he told me there won’t be anymore time taken off – hiatuses or otherwise.

“I think we’re good now,” he said, laughing. “So it’s good.”

Be sure to check out our talk, where Fallon discussed why he thinks The ’59 Sound was the breakthrough album for the band, how he’s in the midst of giving of bread, and what makes his home state of New Jersey so great. Also, here’s one of my favorites from the LP, “Old White Lincoln.”