Brian Fallon & The Painkillers

Brian Fallon & The Painkillers touring in November with a new album

Presented by VISIONS

Special Guest: Chris Farren

Some musicians age gracefully by getting quieter. They choose to retreat into acoustic sounds, slow down the tempo, and look back at their work with the wisdom of age. And then there’s Brian Fallon. On his fifth solo album, “Not Bad for New Jersey,” the frontman of the punk rock institution The Gaslight Anthem does exactly the opposite: he cranks up the amps. Fallon celebrates a return to the impetuous romance of the rock songs that shaped him as a teenager.
It’s a tribute to irrationality and to characters who risk too much and love unconditionally. Musically, this translates into a fast-paced mix of power-pop and heartland rock. Produced by Butch Walker and mostly recorded live near Nashville, the record rejects any cynical detachment. Instead, pure, raw energy reigns, supported by high-profile guests like Brandon Flowers (The Killers) and Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen.
This uncompromising passion unfolds its true power where Fallon’s music has always been at home: on stage. For the songwriter from New Jersey, live concerts aren’t just a routine task, but the actual center of his work. When Fallon steps in front of the audience with his raspy voice, the dynamics of the live recordings transfer directly into the room. His tours thrive on this collective moment of breaking out, where the boundary between band and audience disappears. It’s about the shared experience of songs that tell stories of failing and getting back up—anthems for the outsiders who keep going despite all setbacks. On stage, this shared melancholy turns into a celebratory euphoria.
The album reflects this live energy perfectly. The powerful title track looks back almost in disbelief at his own survival, while “Love at the End of the World,” written with Brandon Flowers, manages without a chorus and develops a hypnotic urgency. Even a fast-paced punk song about Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone fits seamlessly into the image of an artist who would rather fail at full throttle than play it safe. In his lyrics, Fallon deliberately seeks out the stories of those who don’t triumph in the end, but who tried with a burning passion.
If you want to experience this untamed dedication for yourself, you won’t have to wait much longer. In autumn 2026, Brian Fallon is coming to Germany for four exclusive concerts.