The band that refuses to be a Springsteen clone

Sport & Games · Published 20 October 2026 · Updated 22 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For years, The Gaslight Anthem faced a singular, looming shadow: the comparison to Bruce Springsteen. While they shared the Jersey Shore DNA, the band has spent its career navigating the fine line between honoring an icon and carving out a distinct identity in the rock landscape.

Formed in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 2006, The Gaslight Anthem eventually became a staple of the regional music scene. eMusic ranked their 2008 release, The '59 Sound, as the top record. The 2008 work earned a top spot from eMusic. However, this success brought an immediate and persistent comparison to Bruce Springsteen. The band's sound was so frequently linked to his style that frontman Brian Fallon eventually expressed frustration with audiences constantly requesting Springsteen covers, famously remarking, "My name isn’t Bruce."

Despite the comparisons, the band maintains that their musical DNA is multifaceted. While they are self-described "Bruce Springsteen appreciators," they emphasize that they did not set out to intentionally mimic him. Fallon notes that while they share many of the same roots, they also come from "a lot of different places." The band's influences are broad, ranging from the Rolling Stones and the Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton to Derek and the Dominos, as well as the punk influences of the Misfits and the Bouncing Souls.

The irony of the comparison reached a peak in 2023 with the release of History Books. The album featured a guest appearance by Springsteen himself on the title track. This collaboration served as a "wink" to the public—a symbolic approval from the icon himself. By working directly with Springsteen, the band effectively acknowledged the comparison while asserting their own space in the "rich tradition of New Jersey punk."

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The group's style draws from Derek and the Dominos, Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton, and the Rolling Stones.

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