Pop Break Live: The Gaslight Anthem ‘History Books’ Tour with Joyce Manor and Pink Shift at The Stone Pony Summer Stage on August 16, 2024
“There’s something about the summertime, there’s something about the moon…”
What does it take to make a show truly great? What does it take to transform a segment of time from being a good night at a rock show to the kind of night that buries itself deep in memory? The kind of night that, when recalled, brings goosebumps to your skin and the distinct sensation that you can smell the air and vividly play back each note and movement of the lights. This kind of night relies on more than a band putting on a flawless performance with a thoughtful setlist. It’s a culmination of all the variables being just so; the venue, the season, the weather, the crowd, chance run-ins with friends, and the energy each of those elements brings. The Gaslight Anthem at the Stone Pony Summer Stage was all this and more. And no, there was not an appearance from Bruce.
The sold-out crowd enjoyed a balmy but breezy August night in Asbury Park. This kind of late summer air offers a tease of a cooler season and a reminder to hold on to the final days of sunshine. For the un-indoctrinated, the Stone Pony Summer Stage sits a stone’s throw from the boardwalk and the beach, where sound check can be heard hours before the gates open to welcome fans inside. It’s flat, square, and impossible to move around when full. Somehow, none of this matters as the sun sets behind the stage during the opening acts and the air carries the scent of the ocean and boardwalk treats just over the sea of fans. It’s one of the best places on earth to see a show. Bringing the hometown guys to the stage elevates the night to epic status.
Gaslight Anthem played a tight 21 song set that leaned heavily on the old favorites to a room full of friends, where it seemed like the warmest hugs and hellos were on display all around. Brian Fallon, engaged the crowd but kept the storytelling and chatter to a minimum, sometimes rolling one song to another with no talking in between. The crowd responded with a powerfully loud sing-a-long, particularly to the closing segment which included five of their biggest songs back to back. This is a band that has found its groove together again, playing like pros who were never apart.
Pink Shift and Joyce Manor were solid additions to the tour, opening the show with upbeat punk tunes and energetic performances. Both were worth arriving early to check out.
The Gaslight Anthem Setlist (via setlist.fm)
American Slang
45
The Patient Ferris Wheel
The Weatherman
Blue Dahlia
We Came to Dance
The Spirit of Jazz
Get Hurt
Bring It On
Michigan, 1975
Miles Davis and the Cool
Mulholland Drive
Positive Charge
Howl
Keepsake
1930
Here’s Looking at You, Kid
Mae
Great Expectations
The ’59 Sound
The Backseat
