Gaslight Anthem and Murder By Death, what a great tour!  The line up hasn’t been identical for the entire trip around North America, but tonight’s lineup (actual set times) at the Kool Haus in Toronto looks like this:

8:00 – Broadway Calls
8:45 – Jesse Malin
9:30 – Murder by Death
10:30 – Gaslight Anthem

Kool Haus is kind of a bummer venue (really big, with questionable sound), but I’m still really looking forward to it.

Gaslight blew everyone at Toronto’s Opera House away when they played a very sold out show about 6 months ago.  They even paid on-stage tribute to all the Bruce Springsteen comparisons they’ve been drawing, which I thought was really stellar of them.  Remember when the Killers started to draw similar comparisons to the Boss on their second album?  Man, oh man, did they ever piss and moan about it.  What a bunch of babies.

Murder By Death put on a great show as well, but it will be interesting to see them in a 2500 person venue since they played to about 100 at their last Toronto date.   If you haven’t heard them before, I suggest giving them a listen if you dig on the country-punk thing that’s been happening.

I’m still getting to know Jesse Malin and Broadway Calls, and it’s always nice to see artists play when you’re getting acquainted.

New York’s Jesse Malin reminds me very much of Ryan Adams, which is makes sense since Adams produced Malin’s solo debut The Fine Art Of Self Destruction.

Gaslight Anthem label mates, Broadway Calls, are sonically a sort of Green Day/Gaslight combination.  Some songs from Good Views, Bad News are more memorable than others; “Basement Royalty” and “Tonight’s Alive” are particularly good.

mp3: Broadway Calls – Tonight’s Alive from Good Views, Bad News

mp3: Jesse Malin – Me and Julio Down By The School Yard from On Your Sleeve

mp3: Murder By Death – Spring Break 1899 from Red of Tooth and Claw

mp3: Gaslight Anthem – Say I Won’t (Recognize) from Senor and The Queen

mp3: Gaslight Anthem – Even Cowgirls Get The Blues from The ‘59 Sound