Brian Fallon has returned with his first original solo material in more than five years, unveiling two brand-new tracks: Not Bad For New Jersey and Better Before. Released via Fallon’s own Lesser Known Records, the songs mark a fresh chapter for the New Jersey songwriter while reconnecting with the heartland rock and power-pop sensibilities that have defined his career both as a solo artist and as frontman of The Gaslight Anthem.
The Gaslight Anthem @ Shepherd's Bush Empire
Produced by longtime collaborator Butch Walker at his Nashville-area studio, the two tracks showcase Fallon in reflective but energised form. Better Before, co-written with Canadian singer-songwriter Donovan Woods, leans into emotional vulnerability with a portrait of a relationship falling apart, while Not Bad For New Jersey serves as a rugged and affectionate tribute to Fallon’s roots.
Speaking about the latter track, Fallon explained that the song came from reflecting on the twists and turns of his life and career. The song captures the resilience and working-class spirit long associated with both his songwriting and the New Jersey rock lineage that has influenced him throughout his career.
The release arrives during a busy resurgence for Fallon following The Gaslight Anthem’s acclaimed comeback album History Books in 2023, which ended a near decade-long gap between studio records. That album re-established the band as one of modern rock’s most enduring names, leading to sold-out tours and major festival appearances across the globe.
To celebrate the release of the new solo material, Fallon will perform a run of intimate live dates across the United States this June with his backing band The Painkillers. The performances begin at the legendary The Stone Pony in Asbury Park before heading to Nashville, West Hollywood and Chicago.
The Gaslight Anthem @ Shepherd's Bush Empire
Fallon will also appear alongside Bruce Springsteen at the special Music America: The Songs That Shaped Us event in New Jersey, celebrating 250 years of American music ahead of the opening of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music.
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