I can’t speak for everyone when it comes to love for The Hold Steady – in fact, I know more than one person who just can’t get behind their classic-rock-for-the-modern-age sound. For someone who grew up listening to her dad’s old Bruce Springsteen records, however, the Hold Steady’s catalog strikes feelings of warmth and familiarity.
The Hold Steady – The Weekenders by Vagrant Records
The Hold Steady stem back to 2004, forming after Lifter Puller disintegrated. While Separation Sunday, Almost Killed Me, Stay Positive and Heaven is Forever are all solid albums, my heart lies with 2006’s Boys and Girls in America, from the direct homage to Springsteen and the E Street Band in “Stuck Between Stations” to the frenetic and celebratory “Massive Nights”, and every bottom-shelf-soaked song in between.
The Hold Steady’s notoriously energetic live show will be an excellent choice for Sunday at Treasure Island – the band will play in the evening after a full day of indie rock, as the sun sets and the island is fully prepared for subsequent acts by Beach House, Explosions in the Sky, and Death Cab for Cutie. And who knows, maybe they’ll take this opportunity to cover the Mountain Goats or Huey Lewis and the News:
The Hold Steady covers Huey Lewis & The News
The Hold Steady will play the Tunnel Stage from 8:30 – 9:15 pm at the Treasure Island Music Festival on Sunday, October 16th.
