Music review: The Hold Steady | O2 Islington Academy

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The Review - MUSIC - grooves with RóISíN GADELRAB
Published: 3 September 2009

Bar stars’ rock steady brew

PREVIEW: THE HOLD STEADY
02 Islington Academy

THIS smallish show next Thursday (September 10) promises big entertainment for fans of big crunching guitar riffs, intelligent lyrics, and keyboardists with outrageous moustaches.
A bar band at heart, the Hold Steady are never better than when playing to a few hundred people in a crowded space. Frequently and fairly described as “critics’ favourites”, the band has none of the dreariness that usually goes with the phrase.
Literate songs about murder, religion and loss somehow find themselves married to a crashing sound like the East Street Band playing Dinosaur Jr.
With no news of a follow-up to last year’s Stay Positive album, there should be plenty of gems from breakthrough record Boys and Girls in America and their drug/God rock-road trip Separation Sunday.
It’s also the only chance this autumn (other than an appearance at the End of the Road Festival) to see this band, who are at the top of their game.
ALAN STAFFORD

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