Pop Break Live: The Gaslight Anthem ‘North American Tour 2022’ with Jeff Rosenstock at The Met in Philadelphia, PA – Friday October 7, 2022
Words + Photos by Staci Altomari
It has been more than four years since the Gaslight Anthem had their name up in lights anywhere in Philadelphia, and more than seven years since they’ve spoken about being a ‘working’ band, creating new music together. When singer and guitarist Brian Fallon, lead guitarist Alex Rosamilia, bassist Alex Levine, and drummer Benny Horowitz brought the ’59 Sound tenth anniversary celebration tour to Philly in August 2018, it carried a tone of being a final bow for the band. But does anyone ever truly break up anymore?
The lengthy absence may have only ignited the fervor this city shows for four guys from New Jersey singing rock and roll songs. The Gaslight Anthem, along with opener Jeff Rosenstock (Arrognat Sons of Bitches, Bomb the Music Industry, and the composer for Cartoon Network’s Craig of the Creek), played to a sold-out crowd of 3,500 at the Met Philadelphia on Friday night (October 7) that welcomed them back with loud voices and open arms.
Jeff Rosenstock Setlist (Via setlist.fm)
Scram!
Festival Song
9/10
State Line
Wave Goodnight to Me
Hey Allison!
Nausea
You, in Weird Cities
The electricity in the room was slow to ignite under the weight of a set list that felt built for a much smaller venue, under entirely different circumstances. The band walked out to a heavily backlit stage and opened with the moody and quiet “Have Mercy” a track from the Get Hurt era that did not make that album, and to-date, has not been released on any of the major streaming platforms. This set the tone for a rocky start and combined with a few extended monologues from lead singer Brian Fallon, the restless audience didn’t quite settle in with the band until about halfway through their 22-song performance.
A strong second half of the night included favorites like “the Backseat,” “Miles Davis and the Cool,” “Great Expectations,” “45” and “the ’59 Sound,” the last of which included a guest appearance by Britt Luna of Catbite. These classics quickly became rowdy sing-a-longs with fists in the air and a sea of bodies celebrating the broken hearts, hard days, and joy of being together again. While there’s no date set for new music, Philly is charged and ready for more from this band.
Gaslight Anthem Setlist (via setlist.fm):
Have Mercy
Old White Lincoln
Wooderson
Biloxi Parish
Mae
Get Hurt
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
We Came to Dance
Mulholland Drive
Too Much Blood
Blue Dahlia
Halloween
The Spirit of Jazz
The Patient Ferris Wheel
The Backseat
Miles Davis and the Cool
Stay Vicious
Great Expectations
Keepsake
Here’s Looking at You, Kid
45
The ’59 Sound (with Brit Luna of Catbite)
