Watch The Gaslight Anthem Rock Manchester With Billie Eilish Cover Debut

The Gaslight Anthem are trekking across Europe early this year around their 2023 album History Books along with a recently released companion EP, History Books – Short Stories, which includes a cover of Billie Eilish’s “Ocean Eyes.” The New Jersey rockers performed at the O2 Apollo Manchester in Manchester, England on Friday where they offered a live premiere of the Eilish nod.

Gaslight Anthem launched the Manchester play with History Books’ “Positive Change,” a stripped-down rendition of which appeared on the companion EP. The band then turned to the title track from their 2012 album Handwritten.

The “Ocean Eyes” debut fell in the fifth song slot. Gaslight Anthem frontman Brian Fallon detailed the cover when it previewed History Books – Short Stories last week.

“I was driving my daughter to school and she played it for me on the way and I really took to the song,” he said. “Then one day we were talking ideas for a cover with our friends and I said, wouldn’t it be cool to do a heavier version of ‘Ocean Eyes’? I tried it out and everybody loved the idea.”

Watch Gaslight Anthem unveil their cover of Billie Eilish’s “Ocean Eyes” below:

Elsewhere in the set, Gaslight Anthem welcomed opener Emily Wolfe for a pair of songs. The Austin, Texas-based guitarist and singer-songwriter added to History Books‘ “The Weatherman” and Gaslight Anthem fan-favorite “Blue Jeans & White T-Shirts.”

Gaslight Anthem wrapped the concert with the title track to their 2008 record, The ’59 Sound. The band’s UK stint comes to a close with a three-night run at London’s Roundhouse which begins tonight ahead of a two-night stand in Dublin to conclude their March European tour.

The Gaslight Anthem kicks off a North American trek this summer. Check out their full tour routing with ticket info below.