Review Music: The Hold Steady | O2 Academy Islington | Minneapolis

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The Review - MUSIC - grooves with RóISíN GADELRAB
Published: 17 September 2009

Rock Steady!

REVIEW: THE HOLD STEADY
02 Academy Islington

THE Hold Steady’s hour-and-a-half set lived up to their reputation as one of the best live rock bands anywhere.
It was a two-way street as the crowd’s fervour at times approached
religious mania. It could easily have been a
hometown bar gig in Minneapolis.
The band look unlikely – frontman Craig Finn a caffeinated indie rock Woody Allen,
keyboardist Franz
Nicolay a silent movie villain with sharp suit and sharper moustache, and guitarist Tad Kubler tattooed and taciturn.
But they can play, with thundering riffs, sweeping keyboard and songs of soaring highs and crashing lows. The only wrong step came when they messed up How A Resurrection Really Feels but even did that with a certain panache.
Highlights included You Can Make Him Like You, Party Pit, Stevie Nix and Stay Positive.
Visibly moved, the band left to wild cheers.
ALAN STAFFORD

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