Los Angeles – Brian Fallon has experienced quite a large degree of success over the course of his career. His most well known project, The Gaslight Anthem, rose from humble beginnings in New Brunswick, NJ to become a genuine crossover hit on major label-backed albums like Handwritten and Get Hurt. In some ways, the band’s trademark amalgamation of folk-influenced “heartland” rock and classic punk led to the group being shoehorned into a sound. Frustration with these expectations partially led to the band’s short hiatus in 2013, as well as their current indefinite hiatus. In the meantime, Fallon has reinvigorated his sound with a solo album as well as an international tour. The singer-songwriter will perform in Los Angeles on February 16, at the historic Troubadour.
Painkillers, the title of Fallon’s solo debut on Island Records, will be released on March 11. The first single to be released from the upcoming album is the jangling “A Wonderful Life.” Fallon was joined by several of his longtime musical collaborators in creating the songs that make up his debut, and together they craft a sound that is not a distinct departure from The Gaslight Anthem but does create its own voice. Much of Fallon’s aggression has been dissipated on “A Wonderful Life,” though his rough-around-the-edges vocals and chorus of “whoa-oh-ohs” have a touch of punk rock spirit that separates it from the pack.
Brian Fallon is no stranger to new musical projects. In addition to The Gaslight Anthem, he is or has been a member of The Horrible Crowes, Molly and the Zombies and This Charming Man. However, this is the first time he has released a proper solo album, and he has used this new outlet to avoid the limitations of those band’s and their preconceived sonic qualities. Once again, Fallon fell back to his tried-and-true influences of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty, harnessing their shared ability to create urgent, unforgettable rock ‘n roll music. While it may be a little early to peg Fallon with those legends of rock music, he is well on his way to making a lasting impact on the music world.
One of Fallon’s biggest strengths as a songwriter and performer is his powerful vocal ability. His raw vocals suggest a worldliness that gives his big choruses the emotional heft needed to make a lasting impact on the listener. The production work by Butch Walker (Frank Turner, Keith Urban) perfectly straddles the line between rock, folk and pop – it’s a clean-sounding record that never sounds too overproduced, and ever-so-occasionally crossing the line into punk rock aggression. Nowhere is this better exemplified than with the album’s latest single, “Smoke.”
Brian Fallon ’s current tour will extend all the way until late April. Over the next three months, he will perform across North America, as well as heading across the United Kingdom and Europe.
For more information on Brian Fallon and tour information, keep an eye his website.
Matt Matasci
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