Interview with Alex Rosamilia, The Gaslight Anthem

The Gaslight Anthem had an amazing 2008, coming from nowhere to give us; one of the best albums of the year (‘The 59 Sound’), amazing live shows and a few festival appearances. This year they will be following it up with more festival appearances and taking to the same stage as one of their idols when they support Bruce Springsteen at Hard Rock Calling. We talked to guitarist Alex Rosamilia:

Not even two years ago you were an unknown to most people, since then everything’s skyrocketed, how have things changed for you?
Since we've started touring full time, I've also been floating full time when we're home. Aside from that, I don't think much has changed at all.


Do you get much time to have a rest from all the work?
Nope. But, I spend most of any spare time these days with my girl and her 3 dogs.


What’s going to be the best thing about playing with Springsteen?
That maybe people would stop asking us about playing with Springsteen.


How do you feel going back to Reading/Leeds Festival after the amazing reception last year?
I'm excited. That was my first real festival experience ever, as a player or a spectator, and now to go back and play there again, it'll be interesting to see if it’s any different now that we're "veterans" at this stuff.


Do you like being in the UK?
Yeah we like it a lot. It’s one place that I've always wanted to go to, even as a kid. To be able to have the opportunity to keep going back now is pretty amazing.


You’re a band that everyone seems to like, what do you think makes your music appeal to everyone?
I think that we're not trying to ‘do’ anything. We've never gone for a gimmick or niche, we've just played what came natural to us. I think a lot of bands try too hard to be one specific thing sometimes.


It’s nearly been a year since the release of ‘The 59 Sound’, are any plans afoot for a new record?
This winter we're going to go back in the studio and will see what happens....

You can see The Gaslight Anthem at most UK Festivals this year including Reading/Leeds and Glastonbury. For full details and news check www.thegaslightanthem.com

Damon Fowler
Comfort in Sound

The Gaslight Anthem announce new single and video to go with it

New Jersey’s favourite sons The Gaslight Anthem return to the UK this summer twice, for a headline show at The Forum in London on June 4th and again supporting “The Boss” at Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park. Tickets for The Forum show are priced at £15.00 and are available from www.livenation.co.uk. Tickets for Hard Rock Calling are already sold out. The band will also be playing the Radio 1 / NME stage at Reading and Leeds festivals.

June 15th also sees the release of the title track ‘The ’59 Sound’. This single will be available via download, as well as in 7” and CD versions. The B-sides include Gaslight’s brilliant cover version of ‘State of Love and Trust’ by Pearl Jam and ‘We Came to Dance’ off the band’s first full-length 'Sink Or Swim'. Below is the official video for the new single.



The Gaslight Anthem is regarded as one of the hardest working bands in rock n roll, performing over 200 shows in the last 8 months.

Damon Fowler
Comfort in Sound