Our live reviewer Dave is on the case again. This time hitting up the Southgate House last Friday for The Hold Steady. He also went along to the instore performance at Shake It Records the next day. Enjoy……..

“These guys rock so hard behind me, then I come in and fuck things up.” –Craig Finn

This quote, directly from the lead singer of The Hold Steady, sums up my entire past experience with the band. I have always respected the musicianship of the supporting members of The Hold Steady, particularly the straight forward rock and roll style of Tad Kubler’s guitarwork. But there was always something keeping me from thoroughly enjoying the music. I simply couldn’t stand Craig Finn’s vocals. No matter how hard I tried and no matter how many listens I gave their records, I was never able to break down the mental barrier Finn’s singing (if you want to call it that) had built. If you don’t understand what I’m talking about, listen to the first 15 seconds of Separation Sunday and you’ll get the picture.

So, when I saw they were coming to the Southgate House, I went into the show hoping and praying for a band-based, rock your socks off kind of show. I wanted heavy guitar riffs that drowned out the vocals. I wanted huge drums, huge bass, huge keyboards. Conveniently, that’s what I got, but with an unexpected twist.


The band was fantastic, and the material off of their new album, Boys and Girls in America , was especially sharp. I was particularly impressed with Franz Nicolay’s adept ability of gracing the keys. Highlights included “Southtown Girls”, “Massive Nights”, and everyone’s favorite sing-a-long anthem, “Your Little Hoodrat Friend”. But, as the show wore on, I found myself paying attention to and, dare I say it, enjoying the vocal stylings of Finn. This, needless to say, left me a little uneasy. But there’s just an endearing quality about him. Whether it was telling stories about Chad Johnson (a.k.a. Ocho Cinco), taking one of many chugs from a Budweiser can, or running around the stage and up to the mic as if he was in an 80s music video, Finn had a way of commanding both the energy and the excitement of the crowd. It truly was a marvel to watch the crowd get into the show (literally, see picture).

The next day at Shake-It! Records was a little different of an atmosphere (understatement). A four song acoustic set really focused on the intelligence of Finn’s lyrics, which was a nice change of pace from the all out rocking I had received the night before. Stripped down versions of “Chips Ahoy!” and “Your Little Hoodrat Friend” were phenomenal, and left me wanting more.

This set was where I cemented my thoughts and emotions from the night before, and accepted that I had been won over by Finn and the motley crew that is The Hold Steady. “I guess it’s not that bad. There are worse bands out there,” I thought to myself. “I mean, at least I can still hate Nickelback.”

Technorati Tags: Craig Finn, Southgate House, The Hold Steady