It hurts but it's worth it.
So Friday, Jesse and I saw The Hold Steady. I was looking over my friends list (and mentally going over my real-friends list), and I don't think I've heard any of y'all talk about them. In fact, the only time I've heard someone mention The Hold Steady outside of Jesse was Hurley on Lost. (He invites the record-store chick to see them with him. I hope for both their sakes that they went.) Oh, and Arjun obviously knows about them, too, since he came to the show. I can tell it's been too long since I hung out with Arjun--his hair is much longer!
But, really, you all should like The Hold Steady. Especially if you: are partial to boymusic, enjoy listening to songs about Minneapolis, have ever gone to Catholic school and/or CCD, have a thing for good lyrics, spent time with hoodrats and skaters, want to like a band that could probably swallow The Killers whole, or like things that are good. Start liking them right now, and you'll be ready by the time the next album comes out (I think it's slated for later this year).
An important thing about The Hold Steady: They throw such killer parties. The concert this weekend was at the Warsaw, which is pretty much the coolest venue ever. As you can see from the website address, the Warsaw also doubles as the Polish National Home. As far as I can tell, that just means they serve pierogies and kielbasa. Seriously, pierogies and rock shows go together so well, I'm surprised that the Warsaw is the only place that's really doing it. Also, it's not a full-time rock venue, so it kinda looks like they play Bingo or host school dances on alternate nights. And it's in walking distance from Jesse's apartment, which is obviously the best location for a concert venue ever. So screw you, Webster Hall, the Polish are the only ones who really know where it's at.
Another bonus: Jesse and I decided to split the four-for-four-dollars set of buttons. The dude only charged us a dollar. When Jesse pointed out the mistake, the guy said that he'd been doing it that way all night, and it wouldn't be fair to start charging full price with us. Awesome. Then, Jesse found another button on the floor. It says "Damn right you'll rise again." Awesome to the max.
When The Hold Steady finally came out, they put on what is probably the best concert I've been to in six months (since The White Stripes), or maybe even longer (the last Plan show?). I thought I've been to rock shows before, but never have I had beer splashed on me (by the band) and was so into it that I didn't really care. The crowd was nuts--who knew there were so many pent-up Midwesterners living in Brooklyn?--and everyone was really into it. Craig Finn has a nerdy voice and acts kind of fey, so it was surprising to see how hard he can rock out. Set list: Most of Separation Sunday, encore of songs from Amost Killed Me ("Positive Jam," "Killer Parties," "Everyone's a Critic and Most People are DJs"), with a couple of new songs in-between that aren't so talk-singy and make me super-excited for the next album.
Which brings me to the challenge: Get into The Hold Steady now, so we can all go see them together when the next album comes out. You can start with this song, which Jesse said is tied with "Since U Been Gone" for the best song of the last five years. I have to admit he may be right.
But, really, you all should like The Hold Steady. Especially if you: are partial to boymusic, enjoy listening to songs about Minneapolis, have ever gone to Catholic school and/or CCD, have a thing for good lyrics, spent time with hoodrats and skaters, want to like a band that could probably swallow The Killers whole, or like things that are good. Start liking them right now, and you'll be ready by the time the next album comes out (I think it's slated for later this year).
An important thing about The Hold Steady: They throw such killer parties. The concert this weekend was at the Warsaw, which is pretty much the coolest venue ever. As you can see from the website address, the Warsaw also doubles as the Polish National Home. As far as I can tell, that just means they serve pierogies and kielbasa. Seriously, pierogies and rock shows go together so well, I'm surprised that the Warsaw is the only place that's really doing it. Also, it's not a full-time rock venue, so it kinda looks like they play Bingo or host school dances on alternate nights. And it's in walking distance from Jesse's apartment, which is obviously the best location for a concert venue ever. So screw you, Webster Hall, the Polish are the only ones who really know where it's at.
Another bonus: Jesse and I decided to split the four-for-four-dollars set of buttons. The dude only charged us a dollar. When Jesse pointed out the mistake, the guy said that he'd been doing it that way all night, and it wouldn't be fair to start charging full price with us. Awesome. Then, Jesse found another button on the floor. It says "Damn right you'll rise again." Awesome to the max.
When The Hold Steady finally came out, they put on what is probably the best concert I've been to in six months (since The White Stripes), or maybe even longer (the last Plan show?). I thought I've been to rock shows before, but never have I had beer splashed on me (by the band) and was so into it that I didn't really care. The crowd was nuts--who knew there were so many pent-up Midwesterners living in Brooklyn?--and everyone was really into it. Craig Finn has a nerdy voice and acts kind of fey, so it was surprising to see how hard he can rock out. Set list: Most of Separation Sunday, encore of songs from Amost Killed Me ("Positive Jam," "Killer Parties," "Everyone's a Critic and Most People are DJs"), with a couple of new songs in-between that aren't so talk-singy and make me super-excited for the next album.
Which brings me to the challenge: Get into The Hold Steady now, so we can all go see them together when the next album comes out. You can start with this song, which Jesse said is tied with "Since U Been Gone" for the best song of the last five years. I have to admit he may be right.