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Post by drtpants on Apr 2, 2009 20:07:16 GMT -5
no USers at this one?was attendance exclusive in any way?
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Post by heidivandernice, nice on Apr 2, 2009 22:50:16 GMT -5
whoa, crickets. my guess is someone will come to the board after the show.
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Post by cmfolsom on Apr 2, 2009 23:48:06 GMT -5
Attendance was not exclusive. I live near Calvin College, ordered my tickets online, and picked them up at the door.
I've been rocking out to THS for about six months (since accumulating everything available via emusic) and this was my first chance to see them live, so I jumped at it.
Setlist included:
Crucifixion Cruise Charlemagne in Sweatpants Constructive Summer Multitude of Casualties Sequestered in Memphis Ask Her For Adderall
(First six, I'm absolutely sure about. The middle order is fuzzy, though all the songs played are there.)
Party Pit Massive Nights Joke About Jamaica Banging Camp Chips Ahoy Girls Like Status Don't Let Me Explode One for the Cutters Navy Sheets Stay Positive Lord, I'm Discouraged
(...and the end of the night was very clear...)
Southtown Girls Killer Parties
encore:
Certain Songs Stuck Between Stations Slapped Actress
Awesome stuff, as I expected from the band. 90 minutes of pure continuous energy, with a crowd that was totally into everything. I've been on an Almost Killed Me kick lately (especially Sweet Payne), so to see a shortage from that album was possibly the only negative in an overwhelming sea of greatness.
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Post by drtpants on Apr 3, 2009 0:13:32 GMT -5
welcome to the board and thanks a ton for the great review.a lot to like about tonight's song selection.i heard the show was acoustic,that so?a bit more info,please...
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Post by ameritoon on Apr 3, 2009 1:00:06 GMT -5
I liked the show a lot more than their last Pontiac one, Craig was a lot happier here, probably because he didn't get beer thrown on him.
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Post by ameritoon on Apr 3, 2009 1:10:17 GMT -5
Oh yeah, only a few negatives from the show. A little too much Stay Positive and not enough Boys and Girls and Almost Killed Me. I'm still waiting to see You Can Make Him Like You.
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Post by cmfolsom on Apr 3, 2009 8:17:17 GMT -5
welcome to the board and thanks a ton for the great review.a lot to like about tonight's song selection.i heard the show was acoustic,that so?a bit more info,please... It was not acoustic. However, it was held in the Calvin Fine Arts Center, which is an auditorium-style venue. There were maybe ten rows of standing people in the front, then the seating begins. Just about everyone was standing through the show, but the nature of the venue made it hard to move to the music if you weren't in the pit. There is also a balcony, but they didn't have to open it up; everyone fit comfortably in the lower half of the venue. Craig was definitely ecstatic, jumping about and clapping. Franz played a huge organ behind the backdrop for some of the show, which I think is part of the venue and not part of the touring setup. I'm reasonably sure there were no concession booths, and I know for a fact that Calvin doesn't have alcohol sales in their venue. It's also a non-smoking facility, so people kept going outside to smoke (and, I was told, drink in the parking lot). There were a few crazy people down front, but security only had to escort one guy out. It was definitely interesting to see the "bar band" vibe in a straight-edge setting, but the guys pulled it off. The audience was incredibly appreciative, staying quiet for Lord I'm Discouraged, Crucifixion Cruise, and Don't Let Me Explode (which I would assume would not have happened in a venue with beer sales). I would have pictures, but my cell phone battery died on the way to the show.
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sg
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Post by sg on Apr 3, 2009 8:19:37 GMT -5
The show was not acoustic, although that would've been pretty awesome as well. The venue they played in GR is typically home to a lot of classical-type performances, so the back of the stage permanently includes a giant pipe organ. Franz played it for Crucifixion Cruise and the first half of Charlemagne, and then again on Killer Parties. It was a nice touch. The full setlist:
Crucifixion Cruise Charlemagne in Sweatpants Constructive Summer Multitude of Casualties Sequestered in Memphis Ask Her for Adderall Chips Ahoy! Massive Nights Party Pit Don't Let Me Explode Girls Like Status One for the Cutters Joke About Jamaica Navy Sheets Banging Camp Lord, I'm Discouraged Stay Positive Southtown Girls Killer Parties
Certain Songs Stuck Between Stations Slapped Actresses
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essbee
Has Status
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Post by essbee on Apr 3, 2009 8:36:13 GMT -5
The show was not acoustic, although that would've been pretty awesome as well. The venue they played in GR is typically home to a lot of classical-type performances, so the back of the stage permanently includes a giant pipe organ. Franz played it for Crucifixion Cruise and the first half of Charlemagne, and then again on Killer Parties. It was a nice touch. The full setlist: Crucifixion Cruise Charlemagne in Sweatpants Constructive Summer Multitude of Casualties Sequestered in Memphis Ask Her for Adderall Chips Ahoy! Massive Nights Party Pit Don't Let Me Explode Girls Like Status One for the Cutters Joke About Jamaica Navy Sheets Banging Camp Lord, I'm Discouraged Stay Positive Southtown Girls Killer Parties Certain Songs Stuck Between Stations Slapped Actresses Banging Camp, Certain Songs and a pipe organ. I picked the wrong night to go home.
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Post by kim on Apr 3, 2009 8:46:23 GMT -5
That's so weird that they'd go from Crucifixion to Sweatpants like that.
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Post by heidivandernice, nice on Apr 3, 2009 9:03:01 GMT -5
a pipe organ for crucifixion cruise is something i've envisioned foreeeever. jealous.
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Post by hoodrat on Apr 3, 2009 9:05:53 GMT -5
a pipe organ for crucifixion cruise is something i've envisioned foreeeever. jealous. whoa. WANT.
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parock
Midnight Hauler
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Post by parock on Apr 3, 2009 9:18:30 GMT -5
That's so weird that they'd go from Crucifixion to Sweatpants like that. I agree, that's a weird starting combo, but I'm all for crazy setlists so it's cool with me.
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tprime
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Post by tprime on Apr 3, 2009 10:11:07 GMT -5
First new post, promise not to be my last.
I drove to GR from Detroit to see the band (it's the closest they'll be to Detroit all year thus far, next closest is Cleveland in June). It's my 6th or 7th time seeing The Hold Steady, and this was probably my favorite show. Before the show I was quite apprehensive since Calvin College's website gave the impression it was a seated auditorium, but once I walked in and saw the standing room it was great.
Another guy I met there joked that without beer or smoke it was going to be "a sanitized Hold Steady experience". Not necessarily a bad thing, though. During the pauses and slower songs it was a surreal experience having a whole auditorium of silence (I kinda dig these awkward silences).
Basically The Hold Steady rocked a Christian college as hard as a Christian college would allow themselves to be rocked. Franz playing an actual friggin pipe organ just made the night.
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tprime
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Post by tprime on Apr 3, 2009 10:13:50 GMT -5
That's so weird that they'd go from Crucifixion to Sweatpants like that. I agree, that's a weird starting combo, but I'm all for crazy setlists so it's cool with me. I still have to upload my pictures, but I remember the printed setlist having Crucifixion penciled into the top, so they definitely changed it once they discovered the pipe organ at the auditorium.
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Post by shaist88 on Apr 3, 2009 10:25:48 GMT -5
a pipe organ for crucifixion cruise is something i've envisioned foreeeever. jealous. it was freaking incredible. i got a copy of the setlist and i'm pretty sure they played it just because of the huge organ. it was written with a sharpie on top.
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Post by ttraynor on Apr 3, 2009 13:28:34 GMT -5
First new post, promise not to be my last. I drove to GR from Detroit to see the band (it's the closest they'll be to Detroit all year thus far, next closest is Cleveland in June). It's my 6th or 7th time seeing The Hold Steady, and this was probably my favorite show. Before the show I was quite apprehensive since Calvin College's website gave the impression it was a seated auditorium, but once I walked in and saw the standing room it was great. Another guy I met there joked that without beer or smoke it was going to be "a sanitized Hold Steady experience". Not necessarily a bad thing, though. During the pauses and slower songs it was a surreal experience having a whole auditorium of silence (I kinda dig these awkward silences). Basically The Hold Steady rocked a Christian college as hard as a Christian college would allow themselves to be rocked. Franz playing an actual friggin pipe organ just made the night. Much as above--I hoped there would be deserved support....and there was an impressively loyal group who knew the words and were appropriately rowdy--but not at all obnoxious--No beer to throw helps/hurts here (I am thinking: Lucero Grand Rapids vs. Lucero Detroit). I brought an old friend who I called literally from the parking lot. I had an extra ticket and he turned me on to Springsteen/Nils Lofgren MANY years ago. He threw on deodorant and met me. He loved it and a new fan was born. NO "refreshments"--Had to go to another building to find a soda to drink--somehow in the parking lot, I developed a "cotton-mouth"--which was fine as we (old dudes) got to ask some really cute young-uns to help us find our way through the soda hunt (Just wait--some day you will all be old--but keep on rawkin' and talkin'!). Just about as nice a show in an unlikley venue as one can find--Though I did see Steve Earle in the same venue a few years back. The irony is this is an uber-Christian school but most HS songs deal with drugs/sex/teenage lament/despair/hope AND Christianity. Think I read that Finn said "no alcohol" venue was fine as he gave up drinking for LENT (see?). Interesting to see mostly "kids" and some of us oldsters even though the band is probably more our age that their age. future looks bright. Rothbury next!
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Post by cmfolsom on Apr 3, 2009 18:04:06 GMT -5
Just about as nice a show in an unlikley venue as one can find--Though I did see Steve Earle in the same venue a few years back. The irony is this is an uber-Christian school but most HS songs deal with drugs/sex/teenage lament/despair/hope AND Christianity. Think I read that Finn said "no alcohol" venue was fine as he gave up drinking for LENT (see?). Calvin's Festival of Faith and Music (which this performance was part of) is an open-minded look at faith in music. Or, as their website says: "(The festival is) designed to forward a comprehensive interrogation of the ways grace, love, compassion, and the Christian faith are expressed in the world of popular music." Lupe Fiasco is playing tonight, and I heard someone recently mention that he's Muslim. Dave Matthews (self-described agnostic) played the same venue years ago during an acoustic tour with Tim Reynolds. I brought my brother-in-law, who was new to THS. He called just hours before the show (after agreeing to go) to make sure I knew this was a "Christian music festival". I assured him there would be no Michael W. Smith-style Christian rock or worship/praise songs. He left satisfied.
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ted
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Post by ted on Apr 3, 2009 19:28:28 GMT -5
great show.. was so apprehensive about the venue but decided to pony up and go anyway...
drove over from East Lansing.. met some cool people in line. Sneaked out to the parking lot more than once (but less than.... errr... 8 times) for a shot and a beer...
the crowd was so much more enthusiastic than I had expected so I'm quite happy to say that I was wrong.. overall, I enjoyed the show for a lot of the same reasons some people here suggested - I think the (relative) alcohol-free environment actually led to a more pure experience..
the band was really into it and Craig was as animated as ever - he really seemed to be enjoying himself the whole show..
stay positive.
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Post by gamebl0uses on Apr 5, 2009 11:04:28 GMT -5
woah, east lansing? you go to MSU? me too, although i'm studying in australia for the semester. nice to meet you.
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Post by ameritoon on Apr 5, 2009 13:40:19 GMT -5
Also drove from East Lansing, although, I got to there after a nice drive from scenic Mt. Pleasant.
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Post by kim on Apr 5, 2009 14:01:03 GMT -5
Talking to Franz after the Urbana show the next night, he said that he heard people were passing out fliers at Calvin about THS being bad and, I'm assuming, sacrilegious. Anyone see anything or hear that too? He didn't seem to know much about it since he was already gone, but I'm totally intrigued.
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Post by bkhofstra on Apr 5, 2009 18:40:46 GMT -5
Thanks for the complete setlist. I had about 90% of it. For those that weren't there, the pipe organ is up about 15 feet off the back of the stage, so just Finn and Franz come out and Franz climbs about 12 stairs to get into this thing and just he and Finn start Crucifixion. Absolutely incredible start to a great show. This was my first THS show, though been a fan for quite awhile.
Many fans are scared away by the venue, but it's really a great place to see a pure show. I've seen many great acts there (Sigur Ros, Martin Sexton). The head of the Student Activities there does a GREAT job getting excellent shows to the college.
As I was leaving, I saw the typed setlist on the soundboard. It was exactly correct, but was missing the first song, so I'm sure those that mentioned it was a last minute addition due to the pipe organ are correct. I've seen other acts use it as well. Very cool.
As for the flyers, I can't confirm or deny, but if true, it was a small minority. The college is pretty open minded.
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Post by bascombe2 on Apr 5, 2009 20:20:22 GMT -5
This was show was the latest of many I've attended and I don't think I've ever--ever--heard them do anything quite as powerful as that pipe organ addition to "Crucifixion Cruise." I know it's a ridiculous long shot, but if anyone gets a recording of it, PLEASE get in touch, OK?
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emily
True Scene Leader
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Post by emily on Apr 5, 2009 20:23:50 GMT -5
the one show we miss on our run and they pull out the pipe organ...
sounds like it was a great one
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