You shouldn't go to the churro stand during our set because...
"You're going to see something you probably won't see from the other bands -- if you have any interest in a kind of live soul revue mixed with punk rock, that's the ticket. We didn't invent it; we're just carrying on a tradition that's been left on the wayside for 20 years."

This week, music's heavy-hitters reclaimed the spotlight: Green Day premiered songs from their first album in five years at a secret show in San Francisco, Eminem returned with his celeb-spoofing video for "We Made You," and No Doubt released their first new recording since 2003.

It's easy to draw a line from the soulful punk rock of New Jersey-bred band the Gaslight Anthem back to fellow Garden State hero Bruce Springsteen. But vocalist/guitarist Brian Fallon cites another seminal influence -- from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, no less.

At the SPIN.com offices this summer, we played the heck out of The '59 Sound, the new album from New Jersey punk classicists the Gaslight Anthem.

Granted, it was a short week, and one that reminded us of summer's impending arrival -- mmm, barbecue -- but we did learn many things this week, with lessons coming from Weezer's Brian Bell, the commenters over at Deadspin, New Jersey punk rockers the Gaslight Anthem, pop duo She & Him, and... another pop duo, the Submarines. Here's a rundown.