Brian Fallon & the Painkillers at Shepherd’s Bush Empire

It seems like Brian Fallon never stops; at any given time, he’s either fronting the beloved Gaslight Anthem or embarking on his latest solo endeavour, as he is right now. Tonight, we find ourselves in a drizzly Shepherds Bush as the East Coast musician begins a UK run of shows promoting his latest album, Not Bad for New Jersey. It’s a record fans have warmly embraced, showcasing his trademark authenticity and grit – how does it fare in a live setting?

Against a simple logo backdrop, it takes a moment for Fallon and his touring band, The Painkillers, to find their groove as they open with Nobody Likes You in NYC. They soon settle in, however, as the opening trilling guitars of Painkillers receive an excited cheer. It’s a sturdy set of heartland rock, held together by their frontman’s signature vocal rasp, some lovely harmonies and occasional flashy solos from both him and lead guitarist Nathaniel Murphy.

Fallon himself is a somewhat reserved performer, opting to let the lyrics be the main event while he and the band stand and deliver. Indeed, he barely addresses the Shepherds Bush Empire audience until a few songs in; he introduces Hard Feelings by musing on complicated relationships before launching into the quietly contemplative ballad. Then, aside from a proper greeting after the sprightly If Your Prayers Don’t Get to Heaven (“It’s nice to be here in London again, hello… You beautiful bastards, I love you!”), the noticeably drawn-out silences as guitars are swapped and bandmates confer between songs unfortunately interrupt the flow.

Proceedings are thankfully picked up mid-set when a couple of Horrible Crowes songs are deployed, with passionate singing and clapping along from delighted fans, and Fallon smiles at the reception. Entering the home stretch, the band starts bringing in more early solo favourites from his 2016 debut album Painkillers, with the spirited Rosemary and an anthemic finale of A Wonderful Life proving to be excellent closers. It’s only afterwards that it dawns on us that said album is now ten years old, perhaps explaining why so many tracks from it are in the set. It’s a nice touch.

“Thank you, London!” yelps Fallon during the last few bars, and he walks off with a huge grin and a friendly wave to the Empire audience. He may not be a showman, but tonight is a reminder that a gig doesn’t need boundless energy to leave everyone satisfied, as a happy hum follows the crowd spilling onto the rainy Shepherds Bush streets.

Pacing issues aside, Brian Fallon remains a reliably consistent musician. Long may he continue.

Gem Hurley
Photos: LA Benoit

For further information and future events, visit Brian Fallon & the Painkillers’s website here.

Watch the video for Not Bad for New Jersey here: