The Hold Steady

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention that. Totally agree with you there.

Also one of their guitar players had some killer solos. While I think they can probably attribute 90% of their success to Finn's lyrics and style, the rest of the band still holds a lot of weight and doesn't get enough attention. Kinda similar to Gaslight in that regard.

Could you hear the keyboards? I couldn't at all. The rest of the sound was good though.

I didn't see a guy playing the keyboard and didn't hear any keyboard sound. I remember thinking "Wait didn't they have a keyboard guy who left and made everyone sad" but it still sounded find.

That being said, I'm fairly sure I saw four guys on guitar/bass. But wikipedia only lists four members in the band.

Oh yeah Franz did leave but there was definitely someone on keys at the show I was at. You could hear it during the quiet parts but whenever the band was loud it was completely drowned out.

Weird. How many guitar players were there? I honestly can't say for sure I saw five guys up there, but I'm pretty sure I did. Unless I'm confusing them with the opening band.

Yeah there were 3 guys on guitar, someone on bass, drums, and then keys. They had 6 guys out there...I just checked the pics on my phone.

ah ok. Either the keys guy wasn't there or he was hiding somewhere I didn't see him.

Just been getting into them over the past year, thanks to a friend of mine who is "that guy" when it comes to THS. Seen them over 50 times, I love him for it. I liked the albums but what really set it in stone was seeing them live. My friend wanted us up front with him for our first THS show, and it was incredible. I'm not one of "those" fans, but that's how I am with Gaslight so I can totally relate. It's a beautiful thing. Both bands put on shows that make me wonder how anyone can deny the existence of a god/higher power... moments like that really have to come from somewhere, you know?

Long story short, The Hold Steady puts on some of the most powerful, unifying shows I have ever been to.

Saw the Hold Steady in Cambridge yesterday for the first time. Great performance, and Craig is such a theatrical frontman. Not as as varied a setlist as TGA's though and way too loud. A good night though.

The Hold Steady was definitely the loudest show I've ever been to.

Aren't they just absolutely... transcendent? They are so much more than a band with some songs. Between The Hold Steady and Gaslight, I really feel like I've found my home.

This is probably my favorite picture I've ever taken, of anyone or any thing, at any time.

thanks for the link alexander!
nice pictures!

the concert yesterday was awesome! even if i never listened to their records that much (except boys and girls in america).

wintersleep, the support act, wasn't bad, but after a few songs i got really annoyed of his voice... it sounds so much better on their records.

Saw them last week in Dublin. Probably the greatest club show I've ever seen. I don't know how to describe it but it was unreal.

Alex you're pictures capture THS in all their glory in the greatest(s) way possible!! Cheers.

Yeah. That is one of the greatest rock and roll photos I've seen. Captures the essence of Craig Finn perfectly.

fullcollapse wrote:

This is probably my favorite picture I've ever taken, of anyone or any thing, at any time.

top marks!! so intense

Reading all this makes me really wanna see them live! I bellieve they never played Austria until now - at least not in the last couple years. So I'm gonna add them to the list of bands I need to travel to see them ;o)

Manuela, you NEED to experience this band! Take my word that just listening to the albums will never give you what their live show will. It really is something.

fullcollapse wrote:

Manuela, you NEED to experience this band! Take my word that just listening to the albums will never give you what their live show will. It really is something.

ok, one more pic, because it captures Craig's exuberance somewhat - and a pic for Emily to show other people get set lists (and picks) too







left: Wintersleep - right: THS

the encore, not on the set list, was
Positive Jam
Stations
Stay Positive

hahaha nice! I know other people get them... healthy competition reminds me that I need to update my library of them that's NOT hosted on facebook. The facebook gallery us up to date, I think.

I just love taking pictures of Craig. He just glows with... I don't even know what. He loves what he does, and I appreciate life a little more every time I see him.

fullcollapse wrote:

Manuela, you NEED to experience this band! Take my word that just listening to the albums will never give you what their live show will. It really is something.

That's exactly what I feel I should do. But there are no more European dates in sight

enola wrote:

Reading all this makes me really wanna see them live! I bellieve they never played Austria until now - at least not in the last couple years. So I'm gonna add them to the list of bands I need to travel to see them ;o)

they might have... they played at the southside festival last year. so they might have been at the novarock...

unfortunately every time they tour europe they leave out switzerland....

Im pretty sure 'Boys and Girls in America' is going to be on high rotation this summer.

Saw them for the first time a couple of months ago. Unfortunately they didn't play any of the 4 songs I desperately wanted them too.

Craig spent more time talking to the crowd than singing to the crowd.

Just got back from seeing them again. As always a phenomenal show. Other than having a crowd surfer pushed in my face (despite there being no gap between the crowd and the stage because it was a smaller venue, and the speakers being right on the edge of the stage so surfing towards the stage is a *bad* idea lots of people still decided to try. One of them got on the stage only to have a security guy race up and push him back, right on top of me. I seriously hate crowd surfers. I need to either take my focus off the band or risk someone falling on top of me. Don't do it kids. Whatever. #StayPositive =D)

Saw them again in August. I miss the keys in the band but their current lineup really rocks.