Hold Steady set-list signed by the band at their PA at Bristol Rough Trade Records on Thursday 9th March 2023!
Off once again to see The Hold Steady, possibly my favourite band over the last 7 or 8 years and for me the band that, above all others, currently encapsulates my love for this many-splendored thing called rock’n’roll. It’s a lengthy jaunt up to B’rum tonight, as their Bristol gig next week in support of tremendous new album “Teeth Dreams”, likely my favourite of 2014, coincides with our family break in Butlins! Still, after the form they displayed at their Bush Hall gig back in May, I’d go to the ends of the Earth to see them, so Birmingham is just a quick drive up the road in comparison! If further incentive be needed (hah!), support is provided by The So So Glos, probably my favourite new band discovery of this year, a raucous, terrace chant anthemic punk rock rabble also known for instigating the “Shea Stadium” venue and recording space regularly haunted by the likes of the Mighty Titus Andronicus.
A
real potential double whammy in prospect, so nothing’s standing in the
way of this one for me! I duly drove into work and set off directly at
my Monday afternoon 3.30 finishing time (usually to
fetch the kids but tonight to fetch the rock!), purposefully hitting a
sodden road oop North, and arriving at the venue after a wet old journey
20 minutes before doors. A filthy night, this; even the touts stayed in
their cars and shouted, “got any spare?
Buy or sell,” at passers-by! I was second in at just after 7 (the venue
not being prepared to throw us damp early-comers a bone and open up
early), hitting this upstairs venue resembling the Oxford Zodiac room in
both size and orientation, thence sitting and
watching the place slowly fill up.
A
poor turnout early doors – it was barely 1/3 full by 8, so I got a spot
on the barriers, stage left, quite easily for the So So Glos’ entrance.
This young Brooklyn 4-piece took the stage, and the
stage stayed well and truly took! Storming into the strident, ballsy
opener “Son Of An American”, a swaggering statement of intent, they were
dynamic, kinetic, intense and committed from the outset, playing their
powerful, upbeat punk rock with a raucous,
carefree attitude. Surprisingly more punchy, powerful and together
“live” in comparison to their nevertheless excellent album “Blowout”,
which often feels like Black Flag’s seminal “TV Party” times 10 and
consequently on the verge of collapse at any moment,
they nonetheless surfed constantly on the ragged edge, delivering a
thrilling set. “This song’s about Xanax, America’s legal drug dealers!”
announced wide-eyed vocalist Alex for third number, the breathless
“Xanax”. That’s punk attitude for you! “Wrecking
Ball” featured some in-your-face rap call-and-response vocals and a
crushing terrace chant hook, whilst “Speakeasy” recalled early Hot Hot
Heat with its’ yelping vocals and bass-powered rhythm. However the
penultimate number “Everything Revival” was the highlight;
unplanned but shouted for by (and subsequently dedicated to!) me, this
was utterly magnificent, a joyous punk rock romp with a soaring
singalong hook, which I shouted raucously from my front row spot. Great
stuff!
Follow
that, gents! The place finally filled up but was by no means full, as I
kept my barrier spot and chatted with some fellow front row punters,
before The Velvet Underground’s “We’re Gonna Have
A Real Good Time Together” heralded the entrance of The Hold Steady,
just after 9. “Like the man said, we’re gonna have a good time
together!” announced effusive frontman Craig Finn as the band raced
headlong into the careering, Ramones-like opener “Ask Her
For Adderall”. And we were away on another Hold Steady thrill ride,
Finn as ever everywhere, exhorting the crowd, repeating lines off-mic,
and generally revelling in the sheer unalloyed delight at being the
singer in a rock’n’roll band. “I Hope This Whole
Thing Didn’t Frighten You” and the brilliant swaggering blues of
“Sequestered In Memphis” were similar early highlights, Finn again
sarcastically emphasising the line, “I went there on
business..”
“Truth
is a squirrelly concept in rock and roll… one thing is true, you CAN
make him like you!” announced Finn by introduction to that number;
indeed the frontman was on verbal overload tonight,
his endless yet entertaining between-song banter matching the
articulate verbiage overload of his lyrics. One such soliloquy started
with, “I think we’re a pretty good bar band,” and ended with a headlong
tumble into the roaring “Constructive Summer”, whilst
the next kicked off with, “this is important, so humour me,” went off
on a tangent into a debate on the development of the Internet (!),
finally returning with, “my point being… there are SO many ways you
could be spending your Monday night, yet you’re all
here!”
The
subsequent “Spinners” (“about going out”) was the set highlight,
ebullient, all inclusive and joyfully rendered by the enthusiastic Finn
and a band totally on top of their game. Occasionally
muddy sound couldn’t spoil the fun tonight, as I again abandoned myself
to the moment and bounced along throughout, singing myself hoarse and
ignoring the inevitable sore knees the next day. Some light and shade
too – “Ambassador” diffused the mood before
Tad Kubler delivered the plangent opening riff to the inevitable “Stuck
Between Stations”. A Motown-esque “What A Resurrection Feels Like”
segued into a singalong “Walk On By”, to close a breathless set.
We
got another soliloquy from Finn, a man after my own heart, who also
believes in cutting a short story long, during the encores, then a
ragged, none-more appropriate “Stay Positive” ended a brilliant
1 hour 40 performance. Gathered my thoughts, chatted and hung awhile
with the Merch stand-bound So So Glos, then hit an utterly awash A38 out
of Birmingham and a less sodden M5 home, catching my breath. Tonight
The Hold Steady were again utterly imperious,
and cemented their reputation as, for me, the finest purveyors of rock
music right now. But spare a thought for The So So Glos; tonight 4
Brooklyn upstarts went toe to toe with the best band on Planet Earth and
emerged with flying colours. So as I said, a
real double whammy!
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