The Hold Steady Played Night 1 of Their Boys and Girls in America Anniversary Residency with Titus Andronicus at Brooklyn Bowl, 11/30/16

The Hold Steady

How a Resurrection Really Feels

I remember, back in 2006 or 2007, looking for some new music to buy. These were the days when I still bought most music on CD; so, after checking some "Best Of 2006" list somewhere, I came home with The Hold Steady's Boys and Girls in America in a little orange and white striped bag from Jack's in Red Bank. I'm going to admit that I didn't know what to make of it right away.

Boys and Girls in America is a big, loud, sometimes anthemic, classic rock-inspired album. I discovered it at a time when I was in full-on indie rock mode, and the keyboards and huge guitar chords sounded anachronistically Springsteenian to me at the time. Now, I've loved Bruce my whole life; but he hadn't been "cool" for a long time. As much as I hate to admit it, I think I may have been all about what was "cool" for a while there.

But you know what? I pushed past all that as I spent time with the record. I got lost in the strands of a story arc that I could see joining many of the songs. Frontman Craig Finn's talk-sing delivery invested the songs with drama and humor; and I eventually just gave myself over to the gut-punches of those massive guitars. Boys and Girls in America is one of my favorite albums ever.

The Hold Steady have returned from a hiatus to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the album. Keyboardist Franz Nicolay, whose work gives Boys and Girls a huge part of its signature sound, is back; and the band are in the midst of a 4-night stand at Brooklyn Bowl. Last night, I attended Night 1.

I initially had no tickets to any of the Brooklyn Bowl shows as pre-sale tickets disappeared within moments. Resigned to missing the live rendition of one of my favorite records of all time, I went about my life. Then, The Hold Steady started giving hints about the openers for each night. Night 1, it soon became clear, would be kicked off by Titus Andronicus. I got myself to the show.

I got myself to the show waaaaay early. Like almost three hours early. The idea of watching things over a sea of heads from the back of the room was wildly unappealing, so I arrived soon after doors. I relaxed with a couple of beers, then sauntered to the stage where I'd wait for about two hours.

Titus Andronicus hit the stage at the appointed 8:45. This would be an abbreviated opening set, but Titus Andronicus know what they're doing. They lit right into the usually mid-set one-two punch of "Fired Up" and "Dimed Out." Over eight songs, the band also hit a couple of oldies: "Fear and Loathing in Mahwah, NJ" and "Upon Viewing Brueghel's 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus.'"

Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus

Just as Patrick Stickles announced, "We've got a couple more for you," the sound man told the band they'd run out of time. After some confusion and a partial breakdown of the drum set, everyone realized that there were still ten minutes left in the set. Titus Andronicus came back for an "encore" and squeezed in "A More Perfect Union," ending just as we hit 9:30.

Titus Andronicus

The crowd had filled in all around; and when The Hold Steady took the stage just after 10pm, the place exploded. From the opening riff of "Stuck Between Stations" to the final strains of "Southtown Girls," arms stretched toward the stage and people screamed out lyrics.

Craig Finn did his usual dance of reciting a lyric and then stepping away from the mic to repeat it silently at the audience. Those who have been to many, many more Hold Steady shows than I have (I think I'm at 3 right now.) knew just when to make certain hand signals, when to cross their arms or cross themselves. At the far side of the stage from me -- stage right, I guess -- Franz Nicolay bounced maniacally and drank from a full wine bottle.

The Hold Steady's Craig Finn

When "Chillout Tent" came up, Patrick Stickles and High Waisted's Jessica Louise Dye came out to do the guest vocals on the song. Dye had to work to be heard above the band but did a great job. Stickles inhabited his role.

Jessica Louise Dye

Once the band had finished with the album, they played songs spanning their discography, from Boys and Girls bonus track "Girls Like Status" to Stay Positive favorites "Constructive Summer" and "Magazines" to the band's very oldest song "Knuckles." They closed the main set with "How a Resurrection Really Feels," and it was awesome.

The setlist taped down to the stage ended with just "Encore -- Audible." The Hold Steady returned with Almost Killed Me's "Certain Songs" and went directly into "Stay Positive."

The Hold Steady's Tad Kubler

Then they played what is, apparently, the deepest of Hold Steady deep cuts, "Ballad of the Midnight Hauler." There was a guy up front named Brendan (I think) who was at his 76th Hold Steady show. "Last night was his birthday," said Finn. "And this was the only thing we could think of that would surprise him." Brendan sang every word.

As things wrapped up, Finn said his thanks and left us with, "Brooklyn. Minneapolis. New York City. You. You. You. Us. We are all The Hold Steady." And that's what I love about this band. They may not be re-inventing rock and roll; but, even though many of their songs are about difficult subjects and sad people, The Hold Steady's music is ultimately joyful. Their music is just one of many variations on the theme of a gritty, communal, cathartic, human experience; and those are wonderful things.

The Hold Steady continue their anniversary celebration at Brooklyn Bowl through Saturday.

Northside Festival, Day 2 (Not Really) & 3: King Khan and The Shrines, Giorgio Murderer, Las Rosas, 6/10-6/11/16

King Khan and His Sensational Shrines

Back To Brooklyn

I have never made it to all four days of Northside Festival. Exhaustion, Father's Day, and just not wanting to be away from my family for another day have all contributed to the fact that two or three days are usually all I can muster. On Friday, I was dragging after getting home in the wee hours of the morning from Thursday's festivities. I sucked it up, though, and headed to Bushwick for a BBQ at Baranquilla studios featuring several of our friends including Psychiatric Metaphors and The Off White.

The camera stayed in the car, and I just relaxed there listening to Hot Curl after the arduous drive. I decided I should probably check out something official. As I arrived at my car to maybe head over to Alphaville, the exhaustion caught up with me; and I just decided to pack it in. We had a family event early the next morning, and I needed sleep.

So that was Day 2.

On Saturday, we got home from our thing at about 5:30. It was near Trenton, and I just could not drive anymore. Instead, I took the train to go see King Khan and The Shrines at Brooklyn Bowl. Just reading and relaxing as I putt-putted my way up to the city for 90 minutes was paradise.

As I entered Brooklyn Bowl, local band Las Rosas were already on stage. They play engaging psych / garage pop and have an album, Everyone Gets Exactly What They Want, coming later this year via Ernest Jenning Record Co. Also, I immediately recognized BOYTOY's Glenn Van Dyke on guitar which was cool.

Las Rosas

Next up were Giorgio Murderer, the synth punk alter ego of New Orleans, Louisiana's Buck Biloxi. Biloxi / Murderer took the stage in one of those all-black body stocking / Root Suit things underneath a camo jacket and orange shorts. He spoke mostly unintelligibly, his voice altered with that Cylon centurion effect from Battlestar Galactica. The music was mostly straight-ahead, power chord punk with the addition of synths. And it was all strangely awesome and awesomely strange.

Giorgio Murderer

At just about 10, the stage was set up for King Khan and The Shrines. Guitarist / emcee Mr. Speedfinger introduced the king and things were off. Horns blaring, keyboardist Fredovitch spinning and holding his keyboard over his head, King Khan exhorting the crowd to dance and shout back at him call-and-response style, it was everything I'd come to expect from my past experiences at King Khan's shows.

King Khan

At one point, a bunch of guys started moshing up front; and Khan told them, "Hey. This is people dancing and having a good time. It's not an exercise class. It's not an Agnostic Front show, though sometimes I wish it was." That calmed them down and it was back to just dancing. Through three different costumes, an hourlong set, and a wild encore, King Khan and The Shrines had Brooklyn Bowl cutting loose for a joyous party.

Fredovitch

When everything was over, I pushed my way through the incoming clubbers and hustled back out to the street to make my way home. I pulled into the train station at about 2:20 in the morning. My feet hurt and I was hungry; but, even all those hours later, I still felt the adrenaline of the show.

It's back to Brooklyn one more time tonight for the great Brian Wilson, provided my badge gets me in.

You can see pictures from all of last night's sets in the Flickr galleries.

The Everymen Opened for Titus Andronicus at Brooklyn Bowl, January 30th, 2013

New Jersey. Hardcore.

Last night, Mike from Speak Into My Good Eye and I traveled into Brooklyn to catch the Titus Andronicus show that popped up on the schedule right at the end of last week.  The show took place at the beautiful Brooklyn Bowl; and it marked the third time that I'd gone to see Titus Andronicus in less than twelve months, the first time outside New Jersey.  As usual, Titus Andronicus were great; but two show reviews and a relatively long album review are enough for this site I think.  I'm sure you'll be able to head over to SIMGE to read Mike Mehalick's review, so definitely do that.

I did want to say a few words about openers The Everymen, though.  The Tuckerton, NJ band came on at around 9 and opened with "With the Boys" from their debut full-length, New Jersey Hardcore.  The band powered through a set that included other standouts from that album including "Boss Johnny and the Get Lucky" with its can't-help-but-move-you bass line and one of the best tracks of 2012, featuring the impressive Catherine Herrick on lead vocals, "Coney Island High."  Frontman Mike V. introduced "Dance Only, Only Dance" by calling it both a song and a "mild request" of the Brooklyn crowd who did look like they needed a little encouragement.

The set included two excellent covers.  The band did a really great rendition of Midnight Oil's "Beds Are Burning" that mystified much of the crowd, Mike V. commenting, "most of you kids don't know what the f*ck we just played."  They also dipped into Bruce Springsteen's The Promise for "Ain't Good Enough for You." Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus later expressed how impressed he was at the choice of the deep cut.

The whole set was the sweaty, all-out display that you'd expect if you've heard their album.  The Brooklyn crowd played it a little cool for most of the set, but The Everymen eventually brought them around.

The state flag of New Jersey was on display behind The Everymen's merch table.  Mike V. brought it out towards the end of Titus Andronicus's set and draped it across the shoulders of Patrick Stickles.  It eventually made its way into the crowd, and I'll admit to a desire to rush into the pit to rescue the flag from all of those grabbing Brooklyn hands before it was torn.  Stickles got it back onto the stage before it endured any serious damage, promising to return it to The Everymen.

You've got another chance to catch The Everymen on February 9th at Asbury Lanes as part of Tiny Giant's Winter Beach Ball.  I, for one, can't wait to see what they do in front of a hometown crowd.

Titus Andronicus x 3 + The Everymen

NJ Invades BK

Tomorrow night I head to Brooklyn Bowl to see Glen Rock's Titus Andronicus for the third time in less than twelve months.  I briefly hesitated when the show was announced, it being a weeknight and a swim practice night and all.  But then The Everymen announced that they're opening, and I just couldn't pass.

The Everymen's New Jersey Hardcore is just a great rock and roll record; and after missing out on a couple of opportunities to see the Tuckerton band live, I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's pairing.

Don't worry, though, if you feel like Brooklyn is too much of a haul on a weeknight.  You won't get to experience Titus Andronicus, but you can catch The Everymen at Asbury Lanes on February 9th as part of the Tiny Giant Artist Collective's Winter Beach Ball along with about a million other bands.