‘Seasoned band’ offers soundtrack to my life

September 3, 2008 | Filed under: e-Columns,Entertainment | Posted by:

By Nick Walters

School is back in session, which brings a breath of excitement to the world, and nothing complements that feeling more than a soundtrack for your life. Music can help define personal moments and emotions within one’s existence. Lately, my personal soundtrack has been dominated by one band, The Hold Steady.
I was originally introduced to the band’s music a few years back and was instantly drawn to their vibe. The band takes cues from musical greats such as Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earl and The Band by utilizing lyrical storytelling, memorable sing-a-long choruses and smart lyrics depicting lost love, parties, death and crime.

Their sound is riff-heavy guitar rock that includes a good amount of piano with a definite Midwest feeling. Though the band now resides in Brooklyn, four of the five members of the group are originally from the Minneapolis area and their Midwest upbringing has obviously spread throughout their sound. I particularly love their use of Hammond style organ tones on their new record, Stay Positive.

Formed in 2003, The Hold Steady is a pretty seasoned outfit. They have completed four albums and a few EPs. Once you hear a few of the band’s songs, it becomes easy to recognize their sound, especially the voice of lead vocalist Craig Finn. His voice has a rough element that adds a certain depth and realness to his singing. Although The Hold Steady has a tone that becomes familiar very quick, they have been able to find their sound without getting stuck with the same tiring format. Each album has an overall ambiance that is similar, yet features different musical elements, from their other recordings.

While The Hold Steady presents great musicianship, they are able to give you the comfortable feeling of a band that could possibly be seen at your favorite hole in the wall on any given weekend. I was recently reading an article about their new album in which the author perfectly described the group as “America smartest bar band.” The Hold Steady delivers lyrical punches that actually cause the listener to think, all the while leaving the overall pleasant sentiment of a good party.


Essential Downloads: “Sequestered in Memphis,” “Killer Parties”

Walters is an English senior. E-mail features@kykernel.com.