Anywhere else it might seem strange to watch one of the greatest working rock ‘n’ roll bands play a show to celebrate the anniversary of an artisan hot dog restaurant, but not in Austin. Here in the self-proclaimed “Live Music Capital of the World” this type of scenario is rarely a surprise, even when it happens to be a band of the Hold Steady’s caliber and cult status. Those lucky enough to score tickets to this free, semi-private event were treated to an intimate show from the Brooklyn-based band on Friday night, and oh what a show it was.
As an excited crowd of what had to be less than 200 people shuffled into Frank, Michigan band Cheap Girls got the night going with a brief set of songs that brought to mind the whimsical alternative rock of the Nineties. This is not an insult either, as this trio succeeds in crafting simple tunes that get stuck in your head, making them definitely a band worth catching.
It was almost comical to see the amount of gear stuffed into every crevice of the tiny stage, but with the amps, guitars and pedalboards, and the fact that the band was elevated above the crowd by only one small step, the setting was ideal for a loud and sweaty rock show. Despite having spent a seemingly endless amount of time on the road since releasing their sixth full-length album Teeth Dreams back in March, the members of the Hold Steady appeared cheerful to be taking the stage at one of their favorite Austin eateries. Who wouldn’t love a place that names a menu item after them?
With a crowd practically on top of them, the always jovial Craig Finn set a tone for the performance as he sang out the lyrics to a slow building “Positive Jam” that erupted into a crash of drum bursts and loose, bluesy guitar shredding. Finn brought his trademark storytelling lyrics to “Stuck Between Stations” before getting to “I Hope This Whole Thing Didn’t Frighten You,” the first of only two songs they played off their latest album. The second tune, “Spinners,” came later in the set and was highlighted by the interweaving guitar attack of Tad Kubler and Steve Selvidge that has become a staple of the Hold Steady sound since the unfortunate departure of multi-instrumentalist and keyboardist Franz Nicolay in 2010. The Bruce Springsteen-like touch of piano is gone from their sound, but getting to watch them from little more than a foot away showed the passion and love for their music the members of the band still possess, as well as their ability to instrumentally compensate for the loss.
The twin guitars only boosted the wall of sound on fan favorites like anthem rocker “Sequestered in Memphis,” the all too appropriate “Constructive Summer,” and “Your Little Hoodrat Friend.” The band seemed to delight in giving the audience a lengthy set of older tunes such as the always sentimental “First Night,” amped up fist pumper “Stay Positive,” and the drunken sing-a-long bliss of the soaring rocker “Southtown Girls,” the latter of which closed the set on a monumental high. But Craig and the boys weren’t done laying waste to this sausage party quite yet, and to a barrage of applause they returned to the cramped stage for not one, but four encores. The slowed down “Citrus” charmed before the group took it on home appropriately with “Massive Nights,” “How a Resurrection Really Feels,” and the aptly titled “Killer Parties.” Being so close to a band with the power to rock as hard as the Hold Steady and literally getting hit with Craig Finn’s saliva as he shouted out his ever-potent lyrics about being young, lost and messed up in America had a forceful effect on the audience at Frank. Even in the confines of a hip artisan hot dog restaurant, the band left everyone with the optimistic feeling that you can still find rock ‘n’ roll in its most primal and real state, and that is something everyone needs to experience.
