Music
Everything we know about Brian Fallon and The Crowes so far
Brian Fallon, talented singer-songwriter and lead singer of The Gaslight Anthem, has just announced a few UK dates for next spring including London’s iconic Koko in Camden.
His backing band, The Crowes, also include old band mates: Gaslight’s guitarist Alexander Rosamilia, The Horrible Crowes’ Ian Perkins and Molly & The Zombies’ bassist Cat Popper. Judging from Fallon’s previous solo projects such as The Horrible Crowes or Molly and The Zombies we can expect great things from the Jersey boy once again.
First news of Fallon’s solo project came just weeks after The Gaslight Anthem had played their final gig at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush before the band’s indefinite hiatus. Since then he has kept us in the loop on his recording sessions via social media posts.
So here’s what we know so far…
The new album
Painkillers is the name of the record and so far it has no official release date, but is expected to drop in early 2016 via Island Records (according to Rolling Stone). The last few months have consisted of intense recording in a small studio in the heart of the action, Nashville/Tennessee, with the great Butch Walker. Butch also produced Frank Turner’s new album, Positive Songs For Negative People, last year which ended up being a massive success for the Winchester native. And to bring the connection full circle, Frank played with Brian many times throughout the years and one of those duets was at The Gaslight Anthem’s last gig at Shepherd’s Bush. While the last record seemed like much needed therapy, Painkillers looks to have done exactly what the name suggests for Fallon.
The new sound
There is no denying Brian Fallon is one of the best songwriters of our time, and as much as he dislikes the comparison to The Boss himself, the beautiful storytelling and guitar-heavy sound of his songs is very much comparable to Springsteen in regards to skill. As proven with past side projects and the last Gaslight Anthem record, Fallon does not shy away from trying out new sounds to add to the distinctive blend of New Jersey Americana rock. Brian premiered two new songs at The Newport Folk Festival this July, Steve McQueen and Honey Magnolia. If they are anything to go by, the new record is looking to be a lot more folk-influenced than his previous material, and overall, in a good way, very American. On the new record, Fallon said in a recent interview, he’s tapping into the music he was brought up with – American rock’n’roll and folk.
The new tour
Brian announced US east coast dates very early on into the recording process and UK fans were hoping that eventually they’d get a piece of the new solo material, too. And the wishes have finally come true, having a huge fan base in the UK, Fallon will be playing five UK shows starting on 5 April in Manchester following on to Glasgow and Birmingham, stopping over in London before finishing the tour in Bristol on 10 April. Brian then heads off to mainland Europe. Here’s hoping this is only just be the start of things; Fallon loves coming to the UK and we’re more than happy to have him.
So amongst all the flannel, the songwriting, the recording and the hanging out with old friends, Brian Fallon seems to have found himself again. He wanted to make a record that makes him happy and the only question we have left is… is it April yet?
Brian Fallon and The Crowes play two very special shows in April 2016:
5 – Manchester, O2 Ritz
7 – Birmingham, O2 Institute
8 – London KOKO
Tickets for Brian Fallon and The Crowes go on sale at 09:00 on Friday 6 November, just head to Ticketmaster.co.uk.
