“Some nights it’s just a crush, and some night’s it’s bloodlust,” wrote Craig Finn in his band’s Separation Sunday classic “Stevie Nix.” Some nights it is also a full on party with a band who was on home soil playing to an insane crowd, visibly ecstatic to have a re-energized Hold Steady back celebrating their defining album Boys and Girls in America.
Clearly in full on celebration mode the group played every song fans would want to dance and shout to over the course of the night. Losing money and love on the horses via “Chips Ahoy!” was followed by those damn “Same Kooks” while “Your Little Hoodrat Friend” and “Charlemagne in Sweatpants” mixed it up with “Southtown Girls” and “Stevie Nix”. The dueling guitars ripped up “Ask Her For Some Adderall while “Hot Soft Light” bounced up and down with passion before “Party Pit” rumbled via thunderous drums as did “Massive Nights”.
Oh and the singalongs, the glorious singalongs, unlike any other group The Hold Steady inspire grown-ups to shout in mass while tossing confetti in the air and hugging complete strangers. The encore saw “Hornets! Hornets!” fly around the high tech bowling alley, while the groups basic message was reinforced with “Stay Positive”. “Killer Parties” kept us alive for a cover of the Violent Femmes “American Music” closing out a powerful night.
For a band who wanted nothing more than to play in bars for friends, they have achieved wild success around the world and fans from all over were there to celebrate with them during this amazing run of shows. Sure, nights can get massive, speedy and druggy, but they can also be exhilarating, joyous and life affirming; it was grand to have the boys back in town making more than just clicks and hisses.