Interview: Alex Rosamilia (The Gaslight Anthem)

Photo by Jason Bergman

I’m always proud when musicians agree to let Stereokill interview them, but this really is a personal coup for me.  Since exploding out of the New Brunswick, NJ scene in May 2007 with their mindblowing debut Sink or Swim, The Gaslight Anthem’s rise has been stellar. Sophomore album The ‘59 Sound dropped back in August 2008, and helped cement their place as one of the most talented and original acts around today. Just about to head out on a European tour with Frank Turner and Polar Bear Club, Stereokill spoke to Alex Rosamilia, the rock’n'roll superstars’ lead guitarist.

Stereokill: Your music seems to betray a kind of nostalgia for the ‘good old days’, and that iconic 1950s rock’n'roll style. Why is that era such an influence for you?

AR: That whole era, at least for me personally, kind of worked its way into my subconscious. My mom used to listen to almost nothing but Motown, soul, and doo wop. It was anywhere you went too.

Stereokill: What are your key influences? What did you grow up listening to?

AR: The Cure was definitely my biggest influence. Other than that I like a lot of early 80s Britpop, shoegaze… anything with a lot of delay.

Stereokill:You’ve quickly become one of the alternative scene’s biggest success stories of recent years. How does it feel to have experienced such a meteoric rise?

AR: Pretty ridiculous, and I think I’ve only started to get a hold on things recently. When you’re in the band, I think, you can never really totally understand, because to you, you’re still you. You know?

Stereokill: What drives you to do what you do? What are you passionate about?

AR: Money (joke).

I’m not really sure, actually. I kind of just like playing the guitar, or making music at all, really. I’ll be doing it for the rest of my life. I’ve just been blessed to be able to do it for a living, I guess.

Stereokill: You come from an incredibly vibrant New Jersey scene. Would you say that environment, the bands you played with and knew early on affected and influenced your music?

AR: Jersey definitely leaves her mark on you, that’s for sure. And there is definitely something to say about touring with another band, watching them play every night. I admit, if I see something I like, I’ll pinch it.

Stereokill: I noticed a subtle shift in style between Sink or Swim and The ‘59 Sound – the latter seemed more polished, and more introspective. What influenced the new record as opposed to the first?

AR: Really, I think it was really just time and options. For Sink or Swim, we had a week or so and what we brought to the studio. For the last record we had about 5 weeks and quite the arsenal of gear to tear through. Which did lead to a couple ideas I don’t think we would’ve had otherwise.

Stereokill: Where is the real joy in music for you? Is it in the studio or on stage?

AR: I just love playing live, but I do admit when we’re home I’m constantly writing and recording little things and ideas.

Stereokill: You’ve recently come off a fairly epic North American tour with Rise Against, Thrice, and Alkaline Trio. How did you find the tour?

AR: That was a lot of fun. All of those bands are the nicest people ever. It was the shortest 7 weeks of my life.

Stereokill: You’re about to start a massive UK/Europe tour. Are you excited about crossing the Atlantic?

AR: Totally. I love coming to the UK and Europe. I’m also stoked that we’re able to do it with Frank Turner and Polar Bear Club.

Stereokill: You’ve been steadily moving to larger and larger venues. Do you find you prefer playing to the smaller, more intimate rooms, or to larger crowds?

AR:I love playing these larger shows, but I’ll always have a soft spot for the basement. There’s something about the energy at those shows that you can’t really get anywhere else.

Stereokill: What’s next for TGA?

AR: Touring. Lots and lots of touring.

Stereokill: Finally, the obligatory parting shot: what’s currently rocking the tour-bus stereo?

AR: For me, lately it’s been a lot of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, and the Blood Red Shoes. But then, there is always room for The Cure…

So there’s the scoop. Thanks a lot to Alex for talking to us, and to Sarah Maynard at Division Promotions for setting it up. The Gaslight Anthem are playing six dates in the UK from 2nd-8th February, and then two more dates on 2nd-3rd March. They’re also playing in Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Finland and Sweden, so if you live in northern Europe, you have pretty much no excuse not to go and see them play.