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This was the Hold Steady’s third show in Minneapolis in less than six months. The band has been touring relentlessly since releasing “Heaven is Whenever” in May. However, this mini-three city tour (Minneapolis, Chicago and Milwaukee) was likely more about being home for the holidays than warming up for the UK leg of their tour.
The set list spanned all five of the band’s albums and didn’t rest heavily on any one of them, even the most recent. There were few surprises save one: vocalist/lyricist Craig Finn had little to say to his hometown audience, instead of his usual between-song patter, which would fill gaps by weaving illuminating tales of the stories his lyrics or provide humorous anecdotes of his life in when he lived in the Twin Cities. Rather the band launched from song to song with little embellishment from normally talkative Finn. While this increased the pace of the show, the end result was far less intimate.
Which isn’t to suggest that Finn was completely silent. He gleefully explained the choice of one of the two opening bands as, “In 1986 I came to First Avenue to see the Meat Puppets. It was my first show here. It’s an honor to share the stage with them.” Finn also shared the dilemma of what Hold Steady song is appropriate to dedicate to his new 13-week old niece.
Of course, no one in the crowd was complaining about anything. The floor was bouncing, many high-fives exchanged, way too many bottles raise in salute, and a whole lot of people were singing along to every word. It was a fun show and a great way to wrap up the holidays.
Setlist:
Banging Camp
Chips Ahoy!
Rock Problems
Our Whole Lives
Barfruit Blues
Your Little Hoodrat Friend
Magazines
Hurricane J
Goin’ on a Hike
The Swish
The Sweet Part of the City
Constructive Summer
Hot Soft Light
You Gotta Dance (With Who You Came to the Dance With)
Stuck Between Stations
Sequestered in Memphis
Stevie Nix
Multitude of Casualties
The Weekenders
Southtown Girls
Encore:
Positive Jam
You Can Make Him Like You
Stay Positive
How a Resurrection Really Feels
Shandon Sahm, Curt Kirkwood, Cris Kirkwood, The Meat Puppets
Alan Sparhawk, Retribution Gospel Choir
Steve Garrington and Eric Pollard, Retribution Gospel Choir
