Photos and Review by Sarah Smith
Brian Fallon photos HERE
Cory Branan photos HERE
I had only heard a few songs by Cory Branan before seeing his performance. Those songs were simple and engaging and vocals were easy to get lost in. He has a little raw punk style but not too overwhelming and it leaves just enough space for country-like lyrics involving whisky and women. Branan stood on stage with nothing but a drink and his acoustic guitar. He engaged the crowd, cracked jokes, and created an intimate atmosphere for the audience. This is the perfect show for anyone who is looking for a quiet setting to get lost in some tragically beautiful lyrics.
Before Brian Fallon came on to stage, I spent a lot of time in the crowd, over hearing conversations and getting a feel for what people wanted to take away from the show. I was exciting that not many people knew what to expect. Brian Fallon was the lead singer of New Jersey’s The Gaslight Anthem. Tragedy struck when the band decided to take an indefinite hiatus and go their separate ways. Fallon decided to keep his focus on his solo project, The Crows. He walked out on stage that evening with the warmest smile to welcome the crowd on the first night of the tour. The crowd, not knowing what to expect, responded well and began singing and dancing along with the Crows. Fallon was very engaging and repeatedly thanked the crowd for coming out on a Thursday night, assuming all had an early work morning the next day. He even went ahead and asked the crowd to sing Happy Birthday to his guitarist. The great part about seeing Brian Fallon is the strong sense of nostalgia that fills the room. All the new music that was played felt timeless. It was the perfect amount of swaying your hips and rocking your head back and forth mixed with atmospheric, tranquil melodies that would slow you down and allow you to focus on the lyrics.
Brian Fallon at the Port City Music Hall – ME
