The Hold Steady

After a show supporting the Counting crows earlier this week (well two if you count O2 Wireless) The Hold Steady are performing a handful of their own headline shows, which prove to be more positive than the support slots. This show, in Leed's Irish Centre, is the perfect setting.

It was like the venue was made for a band like this; seats at the back, to give it an underground bar feel, and plenty of room at the front for the more energetic amongst us. The dotted lights along the backdrop make this more of a professional cabaret setting, perfectly suited to the bands rock sound.



I have not seen this place as rammed before. People of all ages are here for the band that have finally made after years and years of trying. After the success of third album 'Boys And Girls In America', the band have gone from strength to strength. A hectic touring schedule last year saw nearly every city and festival in the UK get a opportunity to see the Brooklyn quintet in action.

Since then, a new album, 'Stay Positive' has arrived (this week) and singer Craig Finn has even had a few voice lessons. That may make them appeal to a wider audience, as many people I speak to who don't like the band base the fact on Finns hit and miss delivery (though as we see tonight, he still performs this way, but as the new songs have more melody he can now tackle these as well).

The set is heavy in tracks from the new album, starting as it does with 'Constructive Summer' and staying close to the running order of the tracks. Thrown in for good measure are a couple of oldies like 'Stevie Nix' and fan favourite 'Your Little Hoodrat Friend' from 'Separation Sunday', and 'Hot Fries,' from debut 'Almost Killed Me'.

The live staples of 'Stuck Between Stations', 'Chips Ahoy!' and 'Party Pit' all prove to be everlastingly popular with the varied crowd, and the new songs fit in seamlessly with the well known album tracks. The band as always put on a goods show; Finn singing into and away from the mic on occasions, Tad Kubler wielding his axe to produce those driving and instantly classic riffs, Galen Polivka and Bobby Drake keeping the bar-room beat and Franz Nicolay puts his all in as usual, along with his trademark moustache and strong backing vocals.



set list:
Constructive Summer
Hot Soft Light
Sequestered In Memphis
Chips Ahoy!
Navy Sheets
Banging Camp
Yeah Sapphire
Multitude Of Causalities
Stevie Nix
Party Pit
Massive Nights
Lord, I'm Discouraged
You Can Make Him Like You
Your Little Hoodrat Friend
Hot Fries
Joke About Jamaica
Stay Positive
Slapped Actress
Cheyenne Sunrise

First Night
Stuck Between Stations
Southtown Girls

FUTURE GIGS

sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.