The Hold Steady is a group of nice young men who play rock music. Their new record, Stay Positive, comes out July 15th. The first single, Sequestered in Memphis, can be heard on the boys’ My Space page.
It’s strange to find a new ‘favorite band’ when you’re in your mid-30s, as I did with The Hold Steady. It’s hard to explain to my wife why I want to put their poster over our bed. But I would do it if she’d let me.
The band’s first three albums tell lyrically dense, guitar-driven tales of parties, clever kids, dope fiends, hangers-on and recovery, in and around Minneapolis. They have the gall to smile and laugh during their phenomenal live sets, often finishing concerts by telling the audience how much joy there is in what they do.
It’s easy enough to look up info on the band and sample cuts from their first few albums. I’ve collected a handful of additional links that I felt were helpful in explaining their appeal or the stories behind their work.
I hope to follow them around a bit on their summer tour. Hope to see you there. Stay positive.
Links
An in-store performance for one of their best songs. The video quality is terrible, but adds to the ‘you are there’ vibe. Why can’t the guy in the cap just move???
NPR: The Hold Steady in Concert
From “All Songs Considered,” a full concert of The Hold Steady w/ Art Brut from November 2007, supporting Boys and Girls in America.
A little wordy. A little nerdy. A lot of lovely descriptions of how the band’s openness separates them from other so-called indie darlings.
The A-to-Z Hold Steady Glossary
Not sure what Ybor City is, or why the same names keep getting referenced on the band’s first three albums? This Washington Post guide will help set you straight.
The Hold Steady Guide to the Twin Cities
A great little interactive map that collects many of the names and locations cited in the band’s work, along with the originating lyric.
This post is tagged
No Comments