The Hold Steady Show London A Really Good Time

by | Mar 12, 2018

The Hold Steady by Rachel Lipsitz / Electric Ballroom, London March 9, 2018 (Rachel lipsitz)

The Hold Steady wanted to do something special to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their breakout album Boys And Girls In America. So, in December 2016, they played a run of four shows at an intimate Brooklyn venue. Fans travelled from as far afield as New Zealand to see the band up close and hear a different set each night.

The Hold Steady by Rachel Lipsitz / Electric Ballroom, London March 9, 2018 (Rachel lipsitz)

The residency was such a success that last year the group took it to Chicago and back to New York City. Now they’ve brought it to London, a city that, frontman Craig Finn acknowledges, has welcomed them with open arms since 2007.

That welcome tonight, after a break of more than three years, could better be described as rabid. As soon as the house lights go down to the sounds of the Pink Panther theme, the capacity crowd don’t stop bouncing, yelling, waving, singing, swaying, smiling, or enjoying themselves almost as much as Finn himself.

The Hold Steady by Rachel Lipsitz / Electric Ballroom, London March 9, 2018 (Rachel lipsitz)

Totally unhindered by his guitar or the responsibility of nailing the complex narratives of his lyrics, he’s in almost-perpetual motion. Even hemmed in by the five other men on the frankly too-small stage, the ever-grinning Finn opens his arms as if to embrace the audience, points, claps, slams his palms against his temples, enacts the folded hands emoji, or hops up and down like a little boy who really needs to pee.

The Hold Steady by Rachel Lipsitz / Electric Ballroom, London March 9, 2018 (Rachel lipsitz)

Such unbridled passion is exactly what’s demanded of these emotionally charged songs that deal in universal truths. As Finn points out: “We all fall in love, we all get sad, we all get wasted, we all love Friday nights, and we all love rock ‘n’ roll.”

And good-time rock ‘n roll is exactly what The Hold Steady deliver during their international debut as a six-piece. Described by the singer as the group’s best ever line-up, they muscle their way through 24 high-energy anthems and one tender ballad (a majestic First Night) in just under two hours.

The Hold Steady by Rachel Lipsitz / Electric Ballroom, London March 9, 2018 (Rachel lipsitz)

With this residency billed as “Boys and Girls In London”, the emphasis is obviously on the LP that changed the band members’ lives forever. Opening the first Electric Ballroom show, the raucous Stuck Between Stations not just sets the tone but immediately highlights the importance of Franz Nicolay’s return. Whether it’s the 2006 album’s live staples (Chips Ahoy!, Southtown Girls) or lesser known tracks (Same Kooks), his keyboards are just as essential as the guitars of Tad Kubler, Steve Selvidge, and Finn.

The Hold Steady by Rachel Lipsitz / Electric Ballroom, London March 9, 2018 (Rachel lipsitz)

The same can be said of brand new song Eureka, released earlier this week in celebration of these three UK shows. Never before performed in public, the lyrically nuanced mid-tempo rocker influenced by a “beautiful but sketchy” place in California once again relies on the interplay between keys and guitar. And, like another recent offering played tonight, the celebratory Entitlement Crew, it slips effortlessly into a set that pairs favourites (Your Little Hoodrat Friend, Sequestered In Memphis), with relative rarities (Ask Her For Adderall, Yeah Sapphire).

The Hold Steady by Rachel Lipsitz / Electric Ballroom, London March 9, 2018 (Rachel lipsitz)

There’s even time for a gutsy rendition of The Weekenders from 2010’s unjustly overlooked Heaven Is Whenever, anchored by a solid groove from the no-nonsense rhythm section, bass player Galen Polivka and drummer Bobby Drake. And, while there’s a definite leaning towards their earlier work, most recent LP Teeth Dreams is represented by a ballsy I Hope This Whole Thing Didn’t Frighten You, capped by some ferocious riffing from Kubler, Selvidge, and Finn.

The Hold Steady by Rachel Lipsitz / Electric Ballroom, London March 9, 2018 (Rachel lipsitz)

“Are you guys having as much fun as I am?” the frontman asks at one point. To be fair, that’s physically impossible, but the fevered masses from London (and around the world) certainly give it their best shot.

The Hold Steady by Rachel Lipsitz / Electric Ballroom, London March 9, 2018 (Rachel lipsitz)

Review of The Hold Steady @ Electric Ballroom on 9th March 2018 by Nils van der Linden. Photos by Rachel Lipsitz.


https://rockshotmagazine.com/29092/sigur-ros-mesmerise-at-hammersmith-apollo/

The Nocturnal Affair (Press)

The Nocturnal Affair Bring Their Brooding Brand Of Dark Rock Back To The UK And Into Europe For The First Time

Las Vegas dark rockers The Nocturnal Affair are set to make their long-awaited return to the UK — and for the first...
Cian Ducrot (Press)

Cian Ducrot Shares Uplifting New Single ‘Your Eyes’ & Gears Up For UK Tour Ahead Of Sophomore Album ‘Little Dreaming’

Rising Irish pop sensation Cian Ducrot continues his impressive 2025 with the release of his radiant new single Your Eyes, the latest preview from his hotly anticipated sophomore album Little Dreaming, which lands on 1st August via Polydor Records.

Chet Faker (@CaptureCharles)

Chet Faker Shares Stirring New Single ‘Far Side Of The Moon’ & Announces Second London Show

Australian music icon Chet Faker returns with a heart-rending new single, Far Side Of The Moon, his first release since 2023’s Something Like This, and it marks a striking new chapter for one of alt-pop’s most celebrated voices. The track arrives with a cinematic new video and the announcement of a second headline London show at HERE At Outernet on 24th October, following a rapid sell-out of the first date.

Chance Peña (John Choi)

Chance Peña Marks Columbia Records Debut With Haunting New Single ‘Tongue Tied’

Rising Texas-born singer, songwriter, and producer Chance Peña continues his stellar 2025 streak with the release of his evocative new single Tongue Tied, marking his official debut for Columbia Records. Known for blending folk acoustics, indie rock textures, and intimate lyricism, Peña delivers a soulful, stripped-back anthem that resonates with anyone who’s experienced the slow unraveling of a relationship.

Liang Lawrence (Ana Chen)

Liang Lawrence Unveils Reflective New Single ‘A Day Off In Margaritaville’ Ahead Of Autumn UK Tour

Rising alt-pop storyteller Liang Lawrence has shared her shimmering new single A Day Off In Margaritaville, a vibrant, emotionally layered track that marks the first offering from her upcoming EP It’s A Funny Thing, due later this year via The Other Songs.

Mae Stephens (Hannah Burton)

Mae Stephens Returns With Infectious New Single ‘Tiny Voice’

Breakout pop star Mae Stephens is back with a bang as she drops her irresistibly offbeat new single, Tiny Voice — a track as addictive as it is relatable. Following the runaway global success of her hit If We Ever Broke Up, which racked up over 500 million streams, landed her a Top 15 UK single, and earned Gold certifications in both the UK and US, Stephens continues to show why she’s one of the most exciting new voices in pop.

Maya Lane (Press)

Maya Lane Announces New Single ‘I Don’t Know You Yet’ And Debut London Headline Show Ahead Of New EP

Rising UK pop-country star Maya Lane continues her impressive 2025 trajectory with the release of a stunning new single, I Don’t Know You Yet, out now. The introspective, stripped-back track offers a poignant taste of her forthcoming EP, The Hurt And The Healing, due out on 4th September, and precedes her debut headline show at London’s The Grace on 3rd September.

Perera Elsewhere (Hugo Holger Schneider x Gene Glover)

Perera Elsewhere Returns With Electrifying Double Single Ft. Andy S & Announces New Album

Berlin-based, UK-raised experimental artist Perera Elsewhere (aka Sasha Perera) is back with a high-voltage double single, F*ck Le System / Time Will Tell, out now on Friends Of Friends – both featuring viral Ivorian rapper Andy S. The release serves as a bold statement on feminine strength, social rebellion, and sonic experimentation.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing