"Started recreational, ended kinda medical..." (The Hold Steadyc)

[raid24]

I wish I could get it.... the attraction to this band that is. His voice sounds awful to me, like he is really struggling, and the music seems kinda simple\boring.... what am I missing? They will be at Rothbury and Id like to check them out, but so far I havent heard anything that will make me check em out.

[Beefsteak1138]

Originally Posted by raid24

I wish I could get it.... the attraction to this band that is. His voice sounds awful to me, like he is really struggling, and the music seems kinda simple\boring.... what am I missing? They will be at Rothbury and Id like to check them out, but so far I havent heard anything that will make me check em out.

Different strokes, I guess. I love Stay Positive, especially Sequestered in Memphis and Lord I'm Discouraged.

[MPizzle06]

Just checked them out. I like their sound but I don't like Finn's voice

[mja271]

i initially hated Finn's voice and the style of his singing, but it eventually grew on me and now I like it. However, I'm not a fan at all of the way he sings alot of this stuff live to be honest. A Positive Rage is very disappointing from his perspective.

[thom hudson]

Anyone get the live CD/DVD yet?

[mja271]

Originally Posted by thom hudson

Anyone get the live CD/DVD yet?

yea, I was just commenting on that. The CD is 'meh' to me. The band plays well and there are some very good tracks, but the mix isn't that great and Finn is not on top of his game imo. The DVD is really cool however. It's like a documentary that covers the band on the Boys and Girls in America tour with performances sprinkled throughout. It's a nice little piece.

[zepfan1234]

Originally Posted by mja271

yea, I was just commenting on that. The CD is 'meh' to me. The band plays well and there are some very good tracks, but the mix isn't that great and Finn is not on top of his game imo. The DVD is really cool however. It's like a documentary that covers the band on the Boys and Girls in America tour with performances sprinkled throughout. It's a nice little piece.

Really? That's lame as hell. I'm not going to buy it now. I wanted a real live dvd, not that crap. I'm tired of documentary dvd's on bands. They are boring and have pretty much no repeat value.

[MPizzle06]

OK they have really grown on me lately, and I have come around on Finn's vocals. They work well with what they do

Stay Positive is fucking amazing, as is Boys And Girls In America

I can't get enough of Constructive Summer...just the perfect summer song

[mja271]

Listen to Separation Sunday front to back while looking at the lyrics. Such a great and unique story told throughout that album.

I've been on a huge THS kick lately and really think they're whole catalog is great. Has anybody heard Spectres and 40 Bucks, the
'A Positive Rage' bonus tracks? They're both pretty sweet songs. I also heard recently that they are heading into the studio in August to begin work on a new album.

[thom hudson]

They're awesome.
Seeing them in NJ on the 24th.
Can't wait.

[Giant Jew]

I ended up seeing them three times this summer as an opener for DMB and at Mountain Jam. I really like them.

[ovationman240]

I saw them opening for DMB at SPAC this year. I wanted to rip my eyes out. Normally people get famous before they start becoming pompous douchebags, but I guess this guy feels the need to be that way already. His attitude was terrible, and his voice wasn't much better. Thankfully, I was too drunk to remember the entire opening act N2, so I don't have to remember two nights of identical bullshit.

[mja271]

Why don't you tell us how you really feel?? lol

Seriously though, they're not the type of band that you get into from their live stuff. And idk what makes you think they're pompous d-bags but they really are the complete opposite of that. As for his voice, it took me a long while to warm up to it and even I'll admit that in the live setting I'm not crazy about the way he sings things. That being said, he's an incredible lyricist and every one of their albums has been fantastic.

[thestand]

Originally Posted by ovationman240

I saw them opening for DMB at SPAC this year. I wanted to rip my eyes out. Normally people get famous before they start becoming pompous douchebags, but I guess this guy feels the need to be that way already. His attitude was terrible, and his voice wasn't much better. Thankfully, I was too drunk to remember the entire opening act N2, so I don't have to remember two nights of identical bullshit.

He's the farthest from a "pompous douchebag" as you can get. This post sounds more like a pompous douchebag than Craig has ever seemed to be in the numbers of shows I've seen/times I've gotten a chance to talk to before/after the show.

But I'm glad that you told us how you were "too drunk to remember", broski.

[ovationman240]

Originally Posted by thestand

He's the farthest from a "pompous douchebag" as you can get. This post sounds more like a pompous douchebag than Craig has ever seemed to be in the numbers of shows I've seen/times I've gotten a chance to talk to before/after the show.

But I'm glad that you told us how you were "too drunk to remember", broski.

I drink so I must be a bro! You're an idiot.

But the way he talked he acted like he's done and seen it all. He made me feel like he thought he was the modern day Bruce Springsteen or something.

[thom hudson]

Meh, hopefully you just caught him on a bad night.
I'm anxious for my first hold steady show...bro.

[thestand]

Originally Posted by ovationman240

I drink so I must be a bro! You're an idiot.

I've drank more quality beer in the last week than your Natty Lights have added up to this year. I've got nothing against drinking, but your whole "oh, let me talk about how I dislike a band (which is fine, diff'rent strokes), but then throw in the part where I tell them just how drunk I was" screams http://fuseblog.typepad.com/photos/u...collarsweb.jpg

[Whiteyxc514]

Originally Posted by ovationman240

I saw them opening for DMB at SPAC this year. I wanted to rip my eyes out. Normally people get famous before they start becoming pompous douchebags, but I guess this guy feels the need to be that way already. His attitude was terrible, and his voice wasn't much better. Thankfully, I was too drunk to remember the entire opening act N2, so I don't have to remember two nights of identical bullshit.

Most painful 45 minutes I've ever experienced at a concert.

[Giant Jew]

I enjoyed their set at SPAC the first night. I didnt see much of the second night so I cant comment on that but I dont see what he did the first night for you to call him a pompous douchebag.

[thestand]

SPAC sets were fantastic musically, but seeing them in a half empty amp during the daytime was a pretty awful way to do it. You need to see them in a club.

[Giant Jew]

Originally Posted by thestand

SPAC sets were fantastic musically, but seeing them in a half empty amp during the daytime was a pretty awful way to do it. You need to see them in a club.

Thats what I hear. I saw them at Mountain Jam and really liked it but that was a festival setting.

[thom hudson]

How are the setlists? Do they vary them? Or is it pretty uniform?
I'm hoping for a Boss cover next Friday in dirty Jerz, brah.

[mja271]

the sets are really good. They play like 20-22 songs, a lot of them the same from night to night, but they can play pretty much everything in their catalog on a given night. They move the slots around from time to time as well. Example of a very recent set:

Constructive Summer
Hot Soft Light
Chips Ahoy!
Sequestered In Memphis
The Swish
Magazines
Massive Nights
Party Pit
Don’t Let Me Explode
Stevie Nix
Multitude of Casualties
Yeah Sapphire
Southtown Girls
Lord, I'm Discouraged
Your Little Hoodrat Friend
Stay Positive
Slapped Actress
How a Resurrection Really Feels
------------
Citrus
First Night
Stuck Between Stations
Killer Parties

[dowling25]

I saw them open at Maryland Heights....they were bad. Every song sounds the same, and the main singer sings every song the exact same. Slow songs, fast songs it doesn't matter. They are all the same. That was bad, and I don't want to listen to them again.

[mja271]

I knew they would be received poorly as an opener for DMB. Playing to a more than half empty arena is probably the worst first exposure you can have to them.

[thom hudson]

Originally Posted by mja271

I knew they would be received poorly as an opener for DMB. Playing to a more than half empty arena is probably the worst first exposure you can have to them.

I felt the same about Ryan Adams & The Cardinals. I've seen them a few times, and they were awesome...but then I saw them in a half empty MSG (opening for Oasis), and it just didn't feel right. If that had been my first Cardinals show, I'd have written them off.
The setting has a lot to do with it.

EDIT: the cardinals still rule.

[magicrat405]

Originally Posted by thestand

SPAC sets were fantastic musically, but seeing them in a half empty amp during the daytime was a pretty awful way to do it. You need to see them in a club.

It's definitely fair to say that SPAC was a terrible venue to see them, but I really can't imagine anything but the energy being any different elsewhere. The music was very simple, which can be forgiven if the lyrics are brilliant, but what I heard fell way short. Sounded like he was singing about a bunch of self-absorbed scene kiddies.

[thestand]

Originally Posted by magicrat405

It's definitely fair to say that SPAC was a terrible venue to see them, but I really can't imagine anything but the energy being any different elsewhere. The music was very simple, which can be forgiven if the lyrics are brilliant, but what I heard fell way short. Sounded like he was singing about a bunch of self-absorbed scene kiddies.

You could print his lyrics out and read them, never hearing the music, and be satisfied. It sounds a bit like you've completely misread the band. It's hard for people to come to terms with the fact that a dude writes intelligently about belligerent partying and the fallout, but that's what Craig does.

[magicrat405]

Originally Posted by thestand

It's hard for people to come to terms with the fact that a dude writes intelligently about belligerent partying and the fallout, but that's what Craig does.

Even if he does write "intelligently," that's just not a subject I could ever take seriously, and I've come to terms with that. Dave Matthew's lyrics never resonate with me whatsoever, but I can love the music behind them anyway. Since the only music behind the Hold Steady is a bunch of rhythmic power chords played by strangely dressed men doing jumping jacks, I really don't belong in this thread :sorry

[mja271]

They're not for everybody, but its your loss. He one of the best songwriters around right now. His lyrics are incredible.