Concert Review: Gaslight Anthem At Pop's

Graphic credit: 105.7 The Point's website.

105.7 The Point's Ho-Ho Show #1
featuring River City Sound, Greek Fire, and Gaslight Anthem
December 6th, 2012 at Pop's in Sauget, Illinois

As usual, Pop's in Sauget was packed earlier this week as rock fans waited to watch three bands take the stage during 105.7's first Ho Ho Show for 2012. Naturally, the on-air talents came on stage between acts to talk about the concert series and the radio station - but the real stars of Tuesday night were the bands, most specifically New Jersey band The Gaslight Anthem, currently on tour with their fourth album HANDWRITTEN. I could clearly see throughout the crowd folks already wearing TGA gear, and that was before people found the merch table. A half hour after the doors opened, the show began - and went on for the rest of the night into the a.m.

River City Sound: These local boys - if Alton, Illinois counts as local to Saint Louis folks - were clearly enjoying themselves on stage as they leaped around with guitar in hand, singing about five songs to make up their set. Audience reaction to them was fairly positive, although a little ambivalent, and only got pumped when they said Greek Fire would be coming up next. Lyrics were okay, a lot of them remnant of Gaslight Anthem (but without the intensity or creativity). Vocals and guitar work, however, were solid; some songs sounded better than others, but the guitar was always great.

Remember kids, if you can't get your audience to do a call-and-response without it sounding like you're pulling teeth? You probably shouldn't.

You can read the rest of this review beyond the jump.

Song Of The Week: Biloxi Parish

If you weren't at Pop's in Sauget, Illinois last night for the first of 105.7's Ho-Ho Shows, you weren't doing anything worth talking about. You missed a hell of a trio of bands: River City Sound, Greek Fire, and the main act: Gaslight Anthem, a rocking band from New Jersey currently on tour with their fourth album, "Handwritten", out for listening.

(A full review of the Greek Fire/Gaslight Anthem show will be coming later this week!)

Above is one of the best tracks from their latest album. It's got killer lyrics, Brian Fallon's signature vocals, and is incredibly well-produced. Four albums and Gaslight Anthem shows no sign of faltering.

You can buy Handwritten at iTunes and Amazon.

Book Review: Albert of Adelaide

Graphic credit: Goodreads.com

"Is this the place?"

The wombat looked at the pieces of desert being blown around them and took the pipe out of his mouth. "I hope not."

"What I meant was, is this the place where things haven't changed and Australia is liked it used to be?"

The wombat thought for a long time before he answered. "If you mean somewhere animals run around without any clothes on while being chased by people with spears and boomerangs, the answer is no. It's not bloody likely that you'd find old Jack in a place like that.

Part Redwall, part Lord of the Rings, part Hunter S. Thompson: this is not your typical talking animal story. You can read my full review of this book over at the blog for Florissant Valley Community College's student newspaper, the Forum.

You can order your own copy of Albert of Adelaide online from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. There is also an e-book edition available.

Song Of The Week: Titanium

This week's song is not so much a song as an anthem, a theme song for folks who need to feel strong and unbeatable. Everyone has days where they feel down and out, like the world is running them over. Here comes "Titanium" by David Guetta and Sia, the perfect pump-up song to make you feel like - well - titanium. Once I heard this song last weekend on college radio, I knew I had to get it!

You can buy Sia/David Guetta's single on iTunes and Amazon.