Line Out - Comments on Don't Ask Me How the Hold Steady Show Was Because I Didn't Get to See the Hold Steady Show

Comment by Major Tom

Major Tom — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 10:12:55 -0800

Well, after arriving at 9:00 to see Art Brut and arriving 1/3 of the way through Hold Steady's set I think I've finally learned the lesson I should have learned a few weeks ago at LCD Soundsystem / Arcade Fire / "oh, the Gossip played?" show at Hec Ed: the UW is not a club! They have no incentive to have people arrive hours before the band starts because they're not selling them drinks! Like the Paramount or The Moore or Benaroya, and unlike the Croc or Showbox, etc. the time on the ticket ACTUALLY MEANS THE TIME THE SHOW STARTS!
Oh, and the Hold Steady? Boring-ass one-trick ponies with one decent song and no hooks. (But that's just me: the only Springsteen sound-alike I can stand is Springsteen).

Comment by Ryan Red

Ryan Red — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 10:13:05 -0800

Ha Ha!

Comment by rkpetersen

rkpetersen — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:34:35 -0800

Ha! Good thing I got there early because I was totally friggin' lost too! And I had directions and everything. The UW, like all big urban universities, is an anthill of buildings, drives and paths going every which way. Eventually locating the HUB was tough enough; finding parking was even tougher.

And yeah, it sure was an early show! Doors were supposedly at 6, show at 7, but the first band (Blood Arm?) were playing their last song when I walked in at 7:15. That plus quick turnover between sets and an apparent shortage of booze backstage meant that the whole thing was over at like 10:00.

Anyway, The Hold Steady were decent. Finn's singing is like a cross between Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello, and Kubler's no slouch on guitar.

Actually though, I thought Art Brut was the more enjoyable band; their singer Eddie Argos really drew in the crowd with over the top stage banter (after berating the venue for the lack of booze and some technical mishaps, including a microphone that went sailing off into the crowd). "Man, it's a lot more tiring doing this stuff sober!"

Comment by rkpetersen

rkpetersen — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:43:56 -0800

And yeah, the Hold Steady played most everything you mentioned, Megan. The 'light show', though, was just a few cans with colored cellophane and chicken wire, and yet they still nearly set the stage on fire with them. "Um, that monitor there actually IS smoking." And unfortunately, no free puppies.

Comment by mikenessss

mikenessss — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:53:56 -0800

Craig Finn could give a headache to a bottle of aspirin. Too...many...words....

Comment by hubislame

hubislame — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:45:57 -0800

Only problem is that the time on my ticket said 7pm and the first opening act went on at 6:30 or so and was done by 7:15. Just give people clear information about who is playing when and no one will have an issue.

Comment by Pablo

Pablo — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:55:10 -0800

UW has maps everywhere. Try preparing for once. Oh, wait, you write for The Stranger. Sorry, I had you confused with a real music journalist.

Comment by gopitchfork

gopitchfork — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:00:24 -0800

The Pitchfork crew always use GPS to make sure they don't miss a show. They're *real* music journalists.

Comment by fk p4k

fk p4k — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 19:50:58 -0800

GPS didn't help me; the U is like a big blind spot.