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Written by Brendan Kane

Photos by Jessica Wittman

Alone is not lonely. You will really only be alone in the moment after people leave and up until you are again accompanied. Loneliness is in the moments that you find yourself in transit, longing for more and the ideas for change are swirling autumn leaves through Ferris wheel spokes. Loneliness breeds the best change. Obama leadership in America, the New Jersey shore come summer and Bruce Springsteen inspiring hero rockers, the Gaslight Anthem - all are consequences of loneliness.

Much has been made of the Jersey Shore Sound of late as the times begin to crave the poetic desperation, romantic ill repute and triumphant human resistance found in Gaslight Anthem lyrics. Just by listening to the Navesink Banks as it hauntingly mirrors Springsteen’s Sandy will have you shot to a place you have never been to. But if that place is a primarily a ghost town, how does it manage to develop a famed sound identity?

According to Gaslight drummer, Benny Horowitz and guitarist Alex Rosamilia, Jersey’s musical attitude is a symptom of the effect unruly, fair weather tourists have on its locals. Unfortunately for Horowitz, tourists are regarded scornfully as “bennys” (for being from Bergen. Essex. Newark or New York) or “shoobies” because they wear black socks, shoes on the beach, carry their picnic lunches in shoe boxes and inadvertently helping rock music along.

“People on the shore have to deal with this weird vibe every year when (bennies) come down for the summer with big attitudes and kind of ruin their community,” said Horowitz. “The beach is 75 per cent empty during the fall and winter. It’s all summer houses and nothings open – or if it is, it closes early. The shore is creepy and desolate.”

“I think the Shore Sound is about the escapism and a sense of desperation; like, ‘I need to get out of here,” added Rosamilia. “It’s a claustrophobic place to live; I spent most of my life wanting to get out.”

Although Springsteen is a major influence, Rosamilia says that few shore influenced bands actually influenced his music. The Gaslight Anthem hails from New Brunswick, NJ which is famed for its fervent basement punk and hardcore scenes that birthed bands like Pavement, the Bouncing Souls and Sticks & Stones. The DIY punk attitude seen in these bands is practically strengthened by the prosthetic, cheesy cover bands and bar goers on the boardwalk. Underground and hidden from unwelcomed ears is the best way to keep art and music organic; getting popular is just a result of being good.

“Basement shows have a really strong thread holding it together and there are actually less venues now than when I was a part of it,” said Horowitz. “Kids just keep moving in and they keep redeveloping houses. It won’t die.”

Gaslight’s inception was only three years ago, yet they have already recorded two albums and have received world-wide acclaim for last year’s release, the ’59 Sound. Horowitz received an offer from friend to jam with singer Brian Fallon who was already gigging full-time.

“I remember the night I heard that band and heard Brian. I thought, ‘this kid can really sing and write songs’ – but I’m not in love with this band – imagine what he could do with a band with balls behind him,” said Horowitz. “It seems that a lot of the real, traditional singer/songwriters always start out in punk bands.”

This summer’s tour is the Gaslight Anthem’s most expansive to date. They will share a stage with the Cure and My Bloody Valentine at Coachella before taking off for a summer in Europe. When you help make up the best North American music culture in 50 years – the world can’t be all that lonely.