“Let
this be our annual reminder...", or, how a one-off becomes deja vu, then a
tradition... Minneapolis’ finest, The Hold Steady, seemed to enjoy last March's
3-night London stand (itself a continuation of their celebratory round-tripper
honouring the 10th Anniversary of their breakthrough album "Boys And Girls
In America") so much, they announced plans to do it all over again! And
so, inevitably, did I... Having asserted, probably since "Boys And
Girls..." first rampaged its' way into my consciousness with its blend of
deliciously wordy, ragged and raw-boned US alt-popcore, encapsulating so much
of what I love about this rock malarkey, that this lot are indubitably The
Greatest Rock'n'Roll Band on Planet Earth, I was determined to keep this Killer
Party going as well, booking tix (again) for the Friday night Leccy Ballroom
first night.
So,
I left early from work oop the Smoke, hitting traffic near Windsor then the
aftermath of a shunt shortly afterwards, as the traffic police held us for 15
minutes to clear the debris. However, after a change stop at Heston (lenses,
shorts and kneestraps - all personal necessities after last year!), further
access into London was startlingly easy and I parked up usual spot, usual time,
no problem. Another delay, though, being held on the Underground at Edgware
Road, saw me hitting the venue just after 20 past 7 to find this was a (very)
early one! After the necessary loo stop, then, support Crewel Intentions
(apparently former Palma Violets mainman Chilli Jesson's new Spaghetti Western
direction) were but a low and quickly disappearing rumble in the distance.
Grabbed
a spot near the front and chatted with a fellow punter (hey Ian!) before the
lights dimmed and the "Pink Panther" theme tune crept surreptitiously
in, heralding the entrance of The Hold Steady at an unfeasibly early 7.50.
"We're The Hold Steady, we're going to build something this weekend!"
announced vocalist Craig Finn to cheers, the band thereby bursting into the
strident Husker Du-popcore lite of "Constructive Summer". And we were
away... or so I thought… Craig Finn was his usual ebullient, rabble-rousing
self, repeating lines off-mic as usual with a huge stupid grin never far from
his features; the band were in fine, rocking fettle, swaggering and strutting,
and a moshpit was responding in kind. However, that fabled and almost mystical
connection between band and audience, the elusive X Factor that elevates a Hold
Steady gig to the ranks of the Very Special Indeed, seemed oddly absent early
doors. Don't get me wrong, even a routine Hold Steady gig knocks most gigs into
a cocked hat and I was still enjoying myself; it just seemed a little... erm, flat... For them, anyway... Despite
highlights such as a rollicking "Sequestered In Memphis", the
tumbling chaos of "Yeah Sapphire" and the backlit spotlight of
"On With The Business", there may have otherwise been maybe too many
mid-paced numbers for me, and I often found myself hoping for a real moshpit-kicking banger such as
"Frighten You" or "Adderall", both sadly absent from
tonight’s set.
One
hour in, though, it all changed... announcing it as a song about love, hope and
other myriad things, Finn counted in Tad Kubler's riff into "Stuck Between
Stations", and the place erupted. Like, really fucking Vesuvius-style erupted... One huge explosion of
rock'n'roll joy and rapture, the moshpit expanding exponentially, sweeping me
along in its wake. The rest of the set was thereafter one huge communal event,
the type where you sweatily hug complete strangers and scream lyrics in their
faces; a brilliant "Hoodrat Friend" saw Finn proclaim God gave him
permission for a pre-Lent "pre-tox"(!), "Massive Nights"
and "Southtown Girls" were huge, euphoric communal singalongs, and
"Slapped Actresses" a swaggering set closer.
Thankfully,
the encores continued this all-inclusive vibe, with the blaring riff of
"The Swish", the roaring chorus of "Stay Positive" and a
magnificent final "Killer Parties", introduced by Finn announcing
that this will indeed become a tradition ("we'll do this again next year!
And the year after...!"), then further tapping into the spirit of the
night by asking the audience to join in with his usual proclamation that,
"There is so much joy in what we
do up here!" And tonight that was reflected down here as well...
eventually, at least!
Collected
my thoughts, chatted with a few punters inside and out (including my moshpit
friend from last year's gig!), then a swift drive home pitched me back into the
'don just after midnight. Nice work! A bit of settling in for a long weekend
initially, maybe, but when they did hit their stride it was the same old Hold
Steady. That being, as euphoric, essential and brilliant as rock'n'roll gets...
I've already set my reminder for THS 2020!
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