Saying Goodbye to the Hold Steady

The Hold Steady during happier, cooler times

People don't use the term "selling out" much anymore. In this recession era economy, the music- powers-that-be often turn a blind eye to the Bud Light commercials, Grey's Anatomy placements, and J.C. Penny campaigns that only a few years ago would've resulted in critical ruin for musicians who held creditability among the rock elite. Now, whenever there is an opportunity to make some money, the industry encourages bands to take it, in hopes that the new money will allow them to make maybe one more record. "Take what you can, when you can, while you can. And you gotta take it now." Jimmy Fallon said that.

Yet, the Hold Steady have "taken it" one too many times for me this year. They're supporting the Counting Crows and Dave Matthews Band on their upcoming tour, as well as gracing Rachel Ray's stage at this year's SXSW. Say what you want about money or fan bases. I'm taking this moment to say goodbye to the Hold Steady. Their last show found me in the midst of way too many, well, DMB fans. Call me elitist, but that matters. Something was lost that night. I saw them no longer as that hard working band, out to do good. They became contrived, cliched rock stars dialing it in, putting on the show everyone expected them to put on. Maybe they were always that way. Maybe not. I'll always love their previous records, but I can't really see myself buying any more, or going to any more shows. It's sad really, because I honestly did love them for a time. They've chosen a different path, and that's ok I guess. Sometimes you just gotta go with whoever is gonna pay you the highest.

The Gaslight Anthem

Roseland Ballroom

NY, New York
10.13.08

The Gaslight Anthem - "Great Expectations" mp3

Fact: The Gaslight Anthem's fans could kick the shit out of Hold Steady fans. Yet, walking around the Roseland Ballroom last night was like walking through about 15 different Hold Steady songs at once -- young-rock kids sucking face by the bar, crowd surfing and riding high off the buzz from drinking their smuggled booze on the train from New Jersey. We were basically looking at thousand Craig Finn's in training. Yet, the main goal of the evening was to see if New Jersey band, the Gaslight Anthem, were worth their salt...to see if their live show matched the passion and quality of their new record The '59 Sound; ultimately, we just wanted to know if this group could be more than an overly-derivative Springsteen-style rock band. To our pleasant surprise, they were. Full review after the jump...

Opening for Alkaline Trio, and Rise Against (sure, why not), The Gaslight Anthem have scored themselves a strong tour with a devoted fan base -- playing two sold out nights in New York. The Roseland was practically filled for Gaslight's opening set at around 7:15 pm. The New Jersey faithful fist pumped, clapped, and sang along with a devotion and passion sorely lacking at almost every indie-rock show we've seen this year. It was refreshing. Gaslight powered through their set of melancholic and nostalgic rock/punk tunes -- singing of lost songs, old radios, high-top sneakers and sailor tattoos. Did they channel Springsteen? Of course they did. Lead singer Brian Fallon had done his homework. He mirrored the Boss' on-stage mannerisms as the band employed E-Street style build-ups, energizing the crowd before launching into the chorus.

Like all great bands, the Gaslight Anthem didn't set out to emulate their idols. All the above similarities came from an internalization of their influences - from years of listening to and digesting the Springsteen catalog until they reached a point where they couldn't sound like another band if they tried. Of course, the Gaslight Anthem draw from more than just Springsteen. There's a lot of Replacements in there, Pouges, and yeah, even some of the Misfits characteristic knack for writing hooky-punk choruses. What's to come for this band remains unclear. The black hole that is the state of current "modern rock" could swallow them up forcing them to change their sound and cater to the large pseudo-emo fan base out there. That would be a shame. Or, they could walk that fine line, play a careful balancing act, and draw from not only the modern rock/punk crowd, but also manage to dip into the ever growing fan bases of bands such as the Hold Steady, Drive-by Truckers and Kings of Leon. Whatever the outcome, one fact remains clear - the Gaslight Anthem made a great record and can back it up live.

Oh yeah - in terms of the "ultimate rock showdown"... we would pay to see Gaslight fans take on Lucero fans. Or better yet - Brian Fallon v. Ben Nichols. Now that's a way to spend a Monday night.
Photos by: GLK

Johnny Cash Tribute Album - Feat. Ben Nichols, Franz Nicolay, Gaslight Anthem

Hitting stores Oct. 21, All Aboard: A Tribute to Johnny Cash, calls upon the southern-rock elite, or soon-to-be elite, to add a gritty, modern- rusticity to Cash classics. Members of the Hold Steady, Lucero, Gaslight Anthem and more, combine to reinvent these timeless tunes the best they can. Follow the link below to preview two tracks from the album.
www.myspace.com/weareanchorlessrecords.

Track list in its entirety after the jump.

1. Man In Black: The Bouncing Souls
2. Country Boy: Fallen From The Sky
3. Wreck Of The Old ’97: Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music)
4. Let The Train Whistle Blow: Joe McMahon (Smoke or Fire)
5. Delia’s Gone: Ben Nichols (Lucero)
6. God’s Gonna Cut You Down: The Gaslight Anthem
7. Cocaine Blues: The Loved Ones
8. Give My Love To Rose: OnGuard (feat. Jason Shevchuk of Kid Dynamite and None More Black)
9. I Still Miss Someone: Casey James Prestwood (Hot Rod Circuit)
10. Hey Porter: MxPx
11. Cry,Cry,Cry: The Flatliners
12. Ballad of a Teenage Queen: The Dresden Dolls feat. Franz Nicolay of The Hold Steady
13. Folsom Prison Blues: Chon Travis (Love = Death)
14. There You Go: The Sainte Catherines
15. I Walk The Line: Russ Rankin (Good Riddance, Only Crime)
16. Bonus Track/Vinyl Only: Delia’s Gone (Alternate Version) Ben Nichols (Lucero)

Happy Hold Steady Release Day You Sons of Bitches!

I'm sorry to say I haven't heard the full record yet (pathetic I know) but PopTartsSuckToasted has a good preview up and Stay Postive was also a recommended release from Pitchfork. What I have heard sounds fantastic. Boys and Girls in America really rocked my world, and honestly still does. Big shoes for Stay Positive to fill. Longer review to come on this bad boy. Go get now. I'm going after work.

Gearing Up for Summer Releases

The New York Times recently published the "notable albums scheduled for summer-season release" list - yes, the list that ultimately accounts for $20 spending sprees and mornings feeling bad about yourself for doing so. Remember how you felt after buying Tyler Ramsey's A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Sea?. Yeah, we are talking about that CD store walk-of-shame.

But, those worth mentioning include: Weezer - Weezer, Adele - 19, Emmylou Harris - All I Intended to Be, My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges, The Hold Steady - Stay Positive and Conor Oberst- Conor Oberst.

Look to Stark for future reviews.