There was a short segment near the beginning of the In Defense of Ska podcast episode with Brian Fallon (The Gaslight Anthem) where he and Adam Davis (Link 80/Desa/Omnigone) have the following exchange:
Adam: [When] you put on a song for someone. How much does it bum you out when they start talking over it, or start doing something else?
Brian: It’s so much so, I just stopped doing it. I never play music for anyone anymore. Because it’s just like, I can’t take it. I get so disappointed easily.
... I just privately listen to music by myself and say “this is awesome!” and I tell no one.
The sentiments behind that exchange are why I write this blog. I’m listening to music constantly, and not talking to people. This is a great outlet. It is much easier to publish those musing on a blog virtually no one reads.
I never play music for anyone anymore.
Brian Fallon, TGLA
He goes on to admit that his wife “abides” sometimes, then gets him back later by making him listen to Blur (he’s an Oasis guy). Major credit to Stace, who reads the blogs and listens to the majority of the songs. I know there are some obnoxious ones in the list when not in a certain mood, I skip ’em sometimes too. There is no “getting me back” either. I love her so much.
The Gaslight Anthem “Old White Lincoln”
Is it kismet, serendipitous, or just a coincidence? One of my favorite tracks from The Gaslight Anthem’s ‘59 Sound showed up on the 59th edition of Friday and whatnot.
A look at the facts:
- Brian Fallon (frontman for The Gaslight Anthem) was on In Defense of Ska podcast this week, yet the guys recorded the episode back in November 2021.
- TGLA has been awesome since way before the blog started.
- I didn’t notice until starting to type this up.
Verdict: Coincidence
Did you know?
- The car heard at the beginning of the track belongs to Joe from Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
- Other notable Bosstone appearances on the album include Dicky* singing the “fight about it / laugh about it” back-and-forth part in “The Patient Ferris Wheel”.
- Hot Water Music’s Chuck Ragan sings and play guitar on the track as well.
*As it turns out Dicky B from MMBT is the one who broke up the band, in part by producing a song promoting RKF’s Anti-vax rally. Classy.
The Anniversary “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter”
How did I never get into The Anniversary’s first record? Even the name should have been a tip-off. Designing a Nervous Breakdown, great title. I thought they were all classic rock guitars and vaguely British vocals from the Your Majesty record. Definitely some songs I listened to a bunch like “Sweet Marie”, “Crooked Crown”, and “Tu-Whitt, Tu-Whoo” sounded that way.
Instead, their first album could pass for an Ozma, theStart, or Red Hot Valentines record for its synths, lyrics, and guitar sounds. Basically, this band was constructed to open for Weezer in the early 00s. If you dig this one, check out my other favorite from the album “The D in Detroit”.
Warning: You may think the chorus is repetitive and boring. They do sing the “And I’ll march slowly and I’ll never forget / How the music stopped or the feel of your breath” four times. If you listen closely it builds slowly each repeat, from a single voice and minimal music to gang vocals and rocking out.
Oingo Boingo “Stay”
- There was guaranteed to be a copy of their albums at every used record store in the late 90s / early 2000s. I thought it was just CD World in Addison, but it was everywhere else I checked too.
- Their records would frequently be in the Ska section
- The Mystic Knights of Oingo Boingo was the original name when the group was still a surrealist street theater troupe. The bass player looks like he’s more into the theater part still from the video.
- “Stay” subscribes to the “Don’t bore us, get to the chorus” ethos. You get a good 4-5 runs through it, too.
- Danny Elfman, so hot right now. Danny Elfman. #coachella
