The Hold Steady

There are a lot of people who all-out hate Lee’s Palace, but even they would agree that the venue fit The Hold Steady’s concerts last Saturday and Sunday perfectly.  I attended on Saturday, and so I obviously can’t judge their second show, but something tells me that Craig Finn and his band wouldn’t fall victim to the fatigue/boredom of second-night shows.

Watching Finn perform is like watching the nicest, happiest guy at a party dance and smile for two hours.  Come to think of it, that’s kind of what a Hold Steady show seems to be like in general (though I don’t know what Craig Finn is like as a person; I’m sure he’s charming).  Yelling  lyrics joyfully into the crowd, dancing carelessly one second and leaning blissfully on the mic stand the next, he’s one of the more unique stage presences we have with us today.

Opening and closing with a call-to-arms (“We are all The Hold Steady!” Finn declared), the show admittedly focused on the harder, more straight-up rock ‘n’ roll numbers than the slower songs.  But that’s okay, because The Hold Steady are one of those bands that take their cues from influences (Bruce Springsteen, The Replacements; Finn even did a monologue near the middle of the show that saluted Minneapolis and all its bands) that make the grandiosity sincere by juxtaposing it all with witty phrases and touching sentiments.

Keyboardist Franz Nicolay was also in top form, emerging in a brown suit and fedora that made him look like he’d just stepped out of a grainy photo of a group of gold prospectors, circa 1898.  It was actually a bit creepy at first, but as he tipped his hat to the audience, jumped up and down like a giddy child and came up with some gorgeous glissandos, his company felt warm and inviting.

As for the songs: they were certainly admirable for not just going with the ones from Boys and Girls in America or Stay Positive – there were a fair amount of earlier songs thrown in, though the anthemic choruses of “Sequestered in Memphis” and “Massive Nights” were certainly highlights.  And the one-two punch in the encore of “Constructive Summer” and “Stuck Between Stations” was indeed the apex.

I usually hate the school of thought that says a non-fan can be turned into a fan by a live show – typically, if you dislike an artist, you’re going to dislike the music in general, no matter how well they can dance.  This concert, though, gave me that feeling that the concert could convert non-fans; in fact, the person I went with was one of those.

***

For more of The Hold Steady,

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/theholdsteady

Emma McKenna

Art Brut @ Lee’s (July 9th, $17.50, 19+)
Amazing Baby @ Drake (August 4th, $13.00, 19+)
Passion Pit @ Phoenix (August 11th, $15.00, 19+)
School of Seven Bells @ Lee’s (October 15th, $13.50, 19+)
Mum @ Opera House (October 27th, $20.00, 19+)
The Cave Singers, Lightning Dust @ Horseshoe (September 14th, $12.00, 19+)
Bishop Morocco, Josh Reichmann (solo), Jaime Sin, Mikey Apples @ Whippersnapper (July 11th, $5.00)
Timber Timbre, Emma McKenna @ Church of the Redeemer (July 17th, $15.00, ALL-AGES)
The Starlight Mints @ Horseshoe (August 9th, $9.00, 19+)
The Minus 5, The Baseball Project, The Steve Wynn IV @ Drake (September 13th, $13.50, 19+)
Sleepy Sun @ Drake (September 21st, $10.00, 19+)
The Watchmen @ Horseshoe (September 25-26, $20.00, 19+)
Friendly Fires (DJ Set) @ The Social (August 10th, 19+)

For fans of Nirvana the Band the Show, this is it. It’s the show’s last episode coming up and to celebrate, Matt Johnson and Jay McCarol will finally get to play a show at the Rivoli on July 31st. Tickets go on sale this week at Rotate; hurry though, they’re limited! And as if that’s not exciting enough, there’s also “secret musical guests”.

Modest Mouse has added a second Toronto show at the Sound Academy on August 22nd. Tickets are $30.00; ALL-AGES.

The Hold Steady has also added a second Toronto show at Lee’s on September 26th. Tickets are $21.50; 19+. Still Life Stll will open.

The Dirty Projectors have rescheduled their cancelled Toronto show to July 22nd. Tickets to this show will be on sale this Thursday.