I’ll openly admit to having been with the Hold Steady since album number one. Having seen them in little bars, big bars, with co-drunks Drive By Truckers, and solo (you are missed, Franz Nicolay) it was hard not to be completely disappointed with their almost-sober album Heaven Is Whenever. But, with a new keyboardist (once again, Franz Nicolay you are missed) and an extra guitarist in tow, the band tried to make amends. The old songs — from “The Swish” to “Stuck Between Stations” — sounded as boozy and trashy as always. The new songs not so much. Fortunately, old songs outnumbered the new songs by a good margin… and when the crowd sung along to “Stay Positive” to close the set, it almost made me forget that entire new album debacle.
