Sequestered in Rough Trade

Tonight I caught The Hold Steady giving a free in-store performance at Rough Trade East, in the old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London.

As they began to play I was up against the right hand speaker - whoa!
It was painfully loud. Rather than stand there with my hands over my ears, I gave up what I'd thought was a prime position and moved round to the side. I was slightly behind the action with a restricted view, but I could enjoy the songs without my ears bleeding and my brain vibrating against my skull...


The band ran through a short sharp 11 song set to promote their new critically acclaimed album Stay Positive. For some reason I've not found the album to be the immediate knockout that Boys and Girls in America was. Up until tonight it has been slow to grow on me. However, hearing the new stuff live does make all the difference, and now I'm really looking forward to seeing The Hold Steady's next proper show in London @ The Roundhouse on October 8th. 'We Gotta Stay Positive'!


I managed to grab a tad (pun intended) of video with my little Sony, one of the quieter moments - it's just a shame I was on the wrong side for Tad's excellent guitar solo!

Lord, I'm Discouraged - The Hold Steady

Stuck Between Stations (end clip) - The Hold Steady
Setlist: Constructive Summer/Stuck Between Stations/Magazines/
Yeah Sapphire/One for the Cutters/Lord, I'm Discouraged/
Sequestered in Memphis/Navy Sheets/Joke About Jamaica/
Stay Positive/Slapped Actress

www.theholdsteady.com

'Pills and powders baby.'

From 'Everybody Hates Hugo':
HURLEY [talking too loud because he has headphones on]: So, Starla...
[Starla takes the headphones off Hurley.]
HURLEY: Sorry. Uh, well, The Hold Steady is playing the Troubadour this weekend, and I was wondering -- maybe Friday...

No, sorry Hurley, The Hold Steady are playing on Monday, that's Monday July 2nd, in London at the Shepherds Bush Empire. Should be good.

So Boys and Girls in America may have been the best album since I don't know when but what about some older stuff? Here's The Swish - Elizabeth Shue! Tusken Raiders!

The Hold Steady - The Swish
From the re-released album, Separation Sunday
"Your Little Hoodrat Friend mp3"
From the re-released debut album, The Hold Steady Almost Killed Me
"The Swish mp3"
Official Website & Myspace

ULU TKO

I've just returned back from seeing Jesse Malin and his band play at ULU (University of London Union). Hey Jesse, if you are up late and googling this - 'great show!' - I suspect though he's either having a post show booze up in the Columbia bar or has already had his milk and cookies and is tucked up in bed. Rock 'n' Roll!


I remember, a few years back, I was on vacation in New York City, browsing in a Greenwich Village record store. I'd read good reports about Jesse's debut album The Fine Art Of Self Destruction but I don't think I had heard anything from it. Anyway, I decided to buy it and listened to it as I travelled around Manhattan. Wow! It was the soundtrack of my trip and rates up there with Lou Reed's New York album as one of the finest about the city. The follow up album, The Heat, was good in places but a bit of a disappointment in comparison. I felt the same the first time I saw Jesse, playing on The Heat tour in London - It should have been good but it seemed lacklustre, something was missing...

So, when Jesse's latest album Glitter In The Gutter came out and the ULU gig was announced I must admit that I was not all that enthusiastic about the news. Credit must go to my trusty sidekick MustyMC who went and got me a ticket for last night's show and ignited my interest in the Glitter CD. It's a very good album, a real grower and now Jesse has enough great material to put on a show to match.


The set was a wisely chosen mix, consisting mostly of the best songs from the new album like 'Black Haired Girl', 'Broken Radio', 'In The Modern World' and a stunning 'Aftermath', and old favourites from The Fine Art Of Self Destruction like 'Wendy', 'Brooklyn', 'Queen Of The Underworld', 'Riding On The Subway' and 'Solitaire'. Halfway through Solitaire Jesse got down from the stage and made his way into the centre of the crowd. He then got everyone to crouch down on the floor around him and we all sang along together to the end of the song (see photo above). A great moment.

Jesse and the band also sprinkled in a few choice covers: A fast, energetic version of Harry Nilsson's Everybody's Talkin', a solo acoustic take on The Hold Steady's You Can Make Him Like You and pretty accurate performance of The Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (aided by support band Headway).

Nice one Jesse.

Jesse Malin Homepage

Better Later than never

There are going to be several good acts tonight on Later... With Jools Holland; Arctic Monkeys, CSS and The Hold Steady. Not too shabby!

I was in a chain record store yesterday and I found it kinda weird that the excellent CSS and Hold Steady albums were being prominently displayed in the 'new releases' section. Both bands have been hard at work for what seems like ages, building on their reputations, gig after gig. Now, with their albums being re-released and the Jool's TV appearance, it looks like all that sweat and booze might have finally paid off!

Boys and Girls of The Borderline

Some video and pics from tonight's excellent gig by The Hold Steady @ The Borderline, London ...


This was the first time that I've seen them play live. I thought it was going to be a good show but it really exceeded my expectations. It was a fantastic performance. The Borderline was as hot and sweaty as usual. The sound near the front was pretty loud, but good, with Craig Finn's vocals coming across clearly.

Massive Nights
It's great to see a band that really enjoys playing (and drinking!) and their enthusiasm rubbed off on the crowd.


Their last song finished with the audience being invited up on stage to join in the fun. I just managed to capture a few seconds before my memory stick maxed out... doh!


I wish I could make Sunday's show as well; It's sold out (no doubt full of Uncut magazine journos) but if you've not got a ticket then you should still try and see if you can get in. These guys are that good. Hey, the worse thing that could happen is that you end up in a pub instead.

www.theholdsteady.com

I hope it's chips, it's chips

Chips Ahoy! - The Hold Steady
As I type this I'm listening and tapping my feet to The Hold Steady's album boys and girls in America. In February they will be on tour here in the UK, so expect a follow up post next month. The Hold Steady homepage

Nightmare! In my rush this morning to open a newly arrived package, I sliced off a bit of my mouse finger - no permanent harm done but now it's started bleeding again. If you don't hear from me soon then please send round a paramedic.