Photos: (left) via The Gaslight Anthem Facebook – The Gaslight Anthem; (right) Screengrab via "Ocean Eyes" official music video – Billie Eilish
On today’s episode of music Mad Libs, veteran indie-rock outfit The Gaslight Anthem has released a new cover of an early Billie Eilish hit featuring backing vocals by psych-jam bassist/bandleader Karina Rykman.
The new punk-rock cover of “Ocean Eyes” is a far cry from the ethereal original version, written by Eilish’s brother and musical partner Finneas O’Connell, which helped codify Billie’s unique sound and catapult her to fame back in 2016.
As The Gaslight Anthem guitarist/lead vocalist Brian Fallon explained in a statement, “We had an idea after we finished recording the album to record some acoustic versions of ‘History Books’ and ‘Positive Charge’. Then at the same time, I had been listening to this Billie Eilish song my daughter showed me on the way to school one morning called ‘Ocean Eyes’ and I thought, ‘Hey that would be a great song for The Gaslight Anthem to cover.’ I really enjoyed diving into this song and now I am a Billie Eilish fan.”
As for Rykman’s involvement, the New York City kid explained to Live For Live Music, “Brian said they were doing a Billie Eilish cover and asked if I wanted to sing on it with him. Obviously I said yes immediately! So cool of him, and I love the way it turned out. The EP is produced by Butch Walker and I love the sonic decisions he made. I’m honored to play a small part!”
Listen to the new The Gaslight Anthem/Karina Rykman cover of Billie Eilish’s “Ocean Eyes” below and scroll down to listen to the original track for reference. Stream the full EP on the platform of your choice here.
The Gaslight Anthem is currently on tour in Europe. After returning to the States in late July for a lengthy run of North American dates stretching into September, the band—comprised of Fallon, Alex Rosamilia (lead guitar, backing vocals), Alex Levine (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Benny Horowitz (drums, percussion, backing vocals)—will wrap the busy summer in its home state of New Jersey with a slot at Asbury Park, NJ’s Sea.Hear.Now Festival on September 15th alongside Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Trey Anastasio Band, Norah Jones, and more.
Click below for a full list of upcoming The Gaslight Anthem tour dates. For more information and ticketing details, head here.
The Gaslight Anthem 2024 World Tour Dates
JULY
26 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom +
27 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union +
28 – Boise, ID – Revolution Concert House +
30 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo +
31 – Forest Grove, OR – Grand Lodge Hotel and Property +
AUGUST
2 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield +
3 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues – Anaheim +
4 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park +
6 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre +
9 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater +
10 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall +
11 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues – Dallas +
13 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern ‡
14 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works ‡
16 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summerstage ‡
18 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway ‡
20 – Washington, DC – The Anthem ‡
21 – New York, NY – Central Park ‡
23 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia ‡
24 – McKees Rocks, PA – Roxian Theatre ‡
25 – Toronto, ON – History ‡
27 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center ‡
29 – Chicago, IL – Salt Shed – Indoors ‡
30 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore Minneapolis ‡
31 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club – The Rave Hall ‡
SEPTEMBER
1 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit ‡
15 – Asbury Park, NJ – Sea.Hear.Now † (SOLD OUT)
† Festival Appearance
+ w/ Special Guests Joyce Manor and The Dirty Nil
‡ w/ Special Guests Joyce Manor and Pinkshift
CURRENT EURO/UK TOUR 2024
MARCH
18 – Glasgow, UK – Academy * (SOLD OUT)
19 – Edinburgh, UK – O2 Academy Edinburgh *
21 – Sheffield, UK – Octagon Centre *
22 – Manchester, UK O2 Apollo * (SOLD OUT)
23 – Wolverhampton, UK – Civic Hall *
25 – London, UK – Roundhouse * (SOLD OUT)
26 – London, UK – Roundhouse * (SOLD OUT)
27 – London, UK – Roundhouse *
29 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Olympia Theatre * (SOLD OUT)
30 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Olympia Theatre *
JUNE
21 – Scheeßel, Germany – Hurricane Festival †
22 – Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany – Southside Festival T
24 – Zagreb, Croatia – INmusic Festival †
25 – Prague, Czechia – SaSaZu ^
26 – Nuremberg, Germany – Löwensaal ^ (SOLD OUT)
28 – Erfurt, Germany – Bandhaus Festival †
29 – Münster, Germany – Vainstream Rockfest †
30 – Saarbrücken, Germany – Garage ^
JULY
2 – Vienna, Austria – Arena Wien Open Air ^
4 – Werchter, Belgium – Rock Werchter †
5-7 – Ewijk, Netherlands – Down The Rabbit Hole Festival †
7 – Ferrara, Italy – Comfort Fest †
10 – Nottingham, UK – Rock City ^
11 – Withington, UK – 2000 Trees Festival †
13 – Madrid, Spain – Mad Cool Festival †
* w/ Special Guest Emily Wolfe
† Festival Appearance
^ w/ Special Guest Spanish Love Songs
