Brian Fallon & the Howling Weather w/ Ruston Kelly
Neumos, Seattle, WA
04.09.18
First the Gaslight Anthem and now the Howling Weather; Brian Fallon sure knows how to pick dynamic band names. Each screams rock n’ roll and he brought the power of a storm to the Neumos crowd, some of whom traveled from Canada and beyond for Fallon’s raw vocals and Jersey banter.
Opening the night was folk troubadour Ruston Kelly. While his sound is a spectrum away from Fallon’s, he provided a great compliment to the headliner. He was earnest in his performance of songs, including his cautionary tale of love, “Black Magic,” and “1,000 Graves,” a tale of putting the pieces back together and leaving for the benefit of another. Kelly was morose in his singing, delving into subjects such as substance abuse and lost love, but very funny when speaking with the crowd. It was a great duality that set up the night for Fallon and his mates.
Fallon already made his name in the music scene with The Gaslight Anthem, one of the most beloved rock bands of the last 10 years. He has shared the stage with the likes of Bruce Springsteen and built a very loyal following in the rock/punk landscape. His new band, the Howling Weather, has the same sheer force and Jersey edge.
The fans were set ablaze when Fallon came out and opened with “Red Lights” and “Forget Me Not,” driving openers that got the crowd jumping and singing along to his signature sound. Fallon’s songwriting and music have the 80’s rock feel of Mellencamp and Springsteen, with a punk edge. It truly hits people at their core, where many fans can relate to the different themes of his stories.
It wasn’t all rock n’ roll during his set, however, as he had some charming banter with the crowd, from shutting down hecklers to telling the kids in the crowd to go to school and not do drugs. The funniest moment of the night was when he told the story of his election night which consisted of grilled cheese sandwiches and asking his friend, “What could go wrong?”
Fallon’s set had great ebbs and flows but sustained the energy he is known for. The regular set ended with foot stompers “Etta James” and “Rosemary.” The high energy tunes garnered most of the time, but it was the stripped-down version of his signature song “59 Sound” that stole the night. It was him, a piano, and that tragic tune. The quiet sing-a-long gave me (and I presume the majority of the crowd) goosebumps.
Being a part of a band that so many identify with and then separating can be a career killer, but in the case of Fallon, he stayed true to himself and did his music his way. When speaking to fans in line and in the crowd, the same sentiment was expressed as to why they loved Fallon. It was along the lines of evolving as a musician but not changing in his soul.
Review and photos by Phillip Johnson
Brian Fallon
Ruston Kelly
