Music

Marie Ladisch / 27 January 2016

Six collaborations we’d love to see from Brian Fallon

Brian Fallon has just unveiled the video for his debut solo single, A Wonderful Life, ahead of the release of his debut solo album Painkillers (set for release on 11 March). 

The former frontman of The Gaslight Anthem will tour the UK under the Brian Fallon & The Crowes banner this April – book remaining tickets.

We can’t WAIT.

Here, our resident Brian Fallon superfan, Marie Ladisch, speculates about six collaborations we’d LOVE to see happen with the New Jersey musician…

1. Bob Dylan

The American singer-songwriter has influenced music and culture for over 50 years now, songs like Blowin’ In The Wind or Like A Rolling Stone are tunes that everyone knows whether they like Dylan or not. Almost every songwriter these days is in some way influenced by Dylan’s writing. Listening to Brian Fallon’s new material we can see the two of them together in a studio with their guitars just jamming away. A new take on Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright anyone?

2. Billy The Kid

Billy Pettinger may not be the obvious choice for our list, but hear us out. Billy’s sound is a treat for fans of The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner, Northcote and Chuck Ragan. The Canadian songwriter previously fronted the punk rock band Billy and The Lost Boys, and has swapped the punk-sound for an acoustic guitar. Her recently-released album Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, produced by none other than Frank Turner himself, is a brilliant example of this transition.

3. Pearl Jam

As part of a live session with American satellite radio station SiriusXM, The Gaslight Anthem covered Pearl Jam’s State Of Love And Trust in 2012. Eddie Vedder and his band in collaboration with Brian Fallon would combine just the right amounts of beautiful lyrics and awesome alternative rock. And since Pearl Jam have just announced they’ll be heading out on a US tour this fall, we think that’s a great time to get practicing.

4. Dave Hause

Philadelphia native and former punk child Dave Hause would be among the perfect collaboration partners for Brian. Mainly because we have seen those two play together during Chuck Ragan’s Revival Tour. Dave’s sound takes its influences from folk, rock, punk and Americana, just the ideal combination for a duet with Brian Fallon. We get a little bit of a bromance vibe going on here – but maybe that’s just wishful thinking.

5. Frank Turner

Speaking of bromance – this is probably our favourite one. Mutual respect, intense levels of songwriting skills, lyrics to give you goosebumps for days and, well, we can’t deny we like the idea of an American-British collaboration. There has been the odd occasion where Frank and Brian have shared the stage, like at The Gaslight Anthem’s last gig at O2 Shepherd’s Bush last August where Frank joined them for a re-arranged, slower rendition of Greatest Expectations. We say: put these two in studio with two guitars for a few weeks and see what happens.

6. Bruce Springsteen

By far the height of our daydreaming, but wouldn’t it just be the best thing to happen to New Jersey since Springsteen’s release of The River album in 1980 (which is, by the way, the same year Brian Fallon was born – coincidence? We think not!). It’s no secret that The Boss is one of Fallon’s biggest influences and the new solo record shows that Springsteen-esque sound. In an interview from 2012, Brian explains that his love for Springsteen started in his late teens with Greetings from Asbury Park, Bruce’s first album. Only a few short years later the two are on the same stage at Glastonbury, rocking out to The Gaslight Anthem’s The ’59 Sound and The Boss himself invites Brian on stage with him during his gig at Hyde Park in 2010 – almost literally passing the musical New Jersey torch.

What do you think? Let us know who you’d love to Brian Fallon collaborate with over at @TicketmasterUK.

Don’t forget, Brian Fallon & The Crowes tour the UK this April – check ticket availability and book now at Ticketmaster.co.uk.