🎵 How Good Are They Really 🎵 The Hold Steady

Music
43

I have seen Killer Parties played live:

  • Yes
  • No

0 voters

44

Chips Ahoy!?

1 Like
45

no, that’s what she says at teatime

4 Likes
46

First time I saw them at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen around the release of BAGIA. Didn’t know it at the time, but walked away with a MASSIVE grin on my face.

1 Like
47

I haven’t but the only time I’ve seen them we got How A Resurrection Really Feels in th big epic closer slot instead, so I was pretty happy with that

1 Like
48

I have seen them start it with a Positive Jam

  • Yes
  • No

0 voters

49

I’ve tried but they’re not for me. Too Springsteen and I can’t get on with his voice.

Apparently Doug Gillard from GBV plays on Sequestered in Memphis so I’ve voted for that in the track poll.

That’s all.

2 Likes
50

3, could go to a 2 if I was feeling harsh. The definition of “fine”

51

One of those bands I’ve had a bit of weird relationship with. I became obsessively keen on them around the time of Boys and Girls in America, got all of the previous albums and listened to them a lot. Twelve months later I was so completely sick of them of that I just couldn’t bear to listen to them at all. I was never indifferent to them - I went straight from absolutely loving them to absolutely hating them.

I reckon I might go back to them again at some stage - there must have been something there for me to like them so much, albeit for such a restricted time. 2.5 rounded down to 2, but ask me again in a year and it might be different.

52

This is, err, quite the image :flushed::laughing:

53

While not one of my all timers when I’m in the mood for them they absolutely slap, joyously brilliant live band too, funnily enough I’ve never actually listened to Separation Sunday, just BAGIA and Stay Positive, so I guess I should fix that?

4 for now

1 Like
54

Also I know the Springsteen worship can be a bit much but I ADORE their cover of Atlantic City

6 Likes
55

Also shout-out to Craig Finn for having the best cover on the Tiny Changes comp

2 Likes
56

Almost Killed Me is 100% worth it too, great record

4 Likes
57

Please fix that.

1 Like
58

There are few bands I’ve tried harder with, and remain a non-fan of. I’ve seen them live I think three times (once at their own gig, twice at festivals) and Craig Finn solo once in a support slot at the Union Chapel. Bought a few of the big albums on CD back in the day and listened a fair bit. I’m a massive Springsteen fan, so it should all just be there on a plate for me, but it just isn’t.

I’ve been thinking about why this might be, and (suspect this may not make me all that popular in this thread) maybe it’s because there seems something a little… icky… about them . Like Craig Finn seems to me a little like music’s Woody Allen. Now, I’m not talking about the allegations against Allen, but rather how he used to put himself into a lot of his movies, playing a neurotic, unappealing older man who has all sort of beautiful young women mysteriously and unrealistically swooning for him. Just complete older male wish fulfilment. I just get the same sort of thing from some of the Hold Steady lyrics. If people feel this is a mis-reading then I’m more than happy to be corrected…

Anyway, 2/5 from me, but not for lack of trying.

59

5/5, those first 4 albums are killer, especially boys and girls. Love Massive Nights so much.

60

yeah, not getting a lot of attention in this thread, but also full of great songs

4 Likes
61

Interesting take. Reckon he’s divorced enough from the world he’s building for his narration to be safely in character but I can see how you ended up feeling that way.

I always feel that the motivation for the band really came from wanting a good reason to hang out with his pals, which I can dig.

1 Like
62

I’m literally listening to this song right now!

1 Like