|
Post by kayfaberaven on Aug 20, 2019 11:13:15 GMT -5
So, the narrator "Got pretty screwed by the chef and the chauffeur." But how/why? Did they get "screwed" inadvertently because the information was wrong? Or did the chef and the chauffeur intentionally screw them? If the latter, what's in it for the chef and the chauffeur? I can't think of anything, so I figure it must be the former.
Any theories?
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Aug 19, 2019 15:38:08 GMT -5
I'll be there for all three nights. Thursday I'll be solo, and Friday and Saturday with my wife (who I've converted into a fan, slowly over time).
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Aug 18, 2019 17:12:10 GMT -5
My impressions of seeing some of the new songs live in Seattle Thursday night (unfortunately I was only in town for that one night so I missed Friday and Saturday):
You Did Good Kid: Will likely become a call and response standard, but this time it was mostly the band doing the calling, and the crowd not doing much responding. But it sounded good and it'll be fun once the crowd plays along a little better.
Blackout Sam: I hadn't heard this one before. It was a good "change of pace" song (similar to how Lord, I'm Discouraged of A Slight Discomfort is used in the setlist). My favourite part was the stereo guitar solos by Tad and Steve about a minute before the end. They're both playing the same solo, and Craig is running back and forth between them, trying to learn how they're doing it. Fun.
Entitlement Crew: This one has been around a bit longer so it already fits perfectly into the set list. I'm glad that my favourite part of the song (the punch up of energy between "I always really liked that song" and "You like that song too") translates perfectly when it's played live.
Denver Haircut: First song of the encore, preceded by a joke by Craig that it's one of the few songs that starts with his guitar playing "to prove that my guitar is actually plugged in." You can tell that the fellas really enjoy playing this one (and all of the new stuff, really).
Checking out the setlists from Friday and Saturday nights, it looks like I missed out on Traditional Village (it hasn't yet made an impression on me), T-Shirt Tux (love it, especially the end--I'm sorry I missed it although I think they played it in Brooklyn last year), Epaulets (hasn't made an impression on me yet, but it seems to me that it'd fit pretty nicely between Positive Jam/Stuck Between Stations before it and Sequestered/Hurricane J after it, which is where they played it Friday night as part of the first 5 songs of the concert), Star 18 (love it, and I wonder if Craig alluded to the fact they were in town the same time as the Stones) and Confusion in the Marketplace (love it).
It looks like they played Entitlement Crew every night, so it may have become a setlist standard. It also looks like The Stove and the Toaster is the only song from the new album they didn't play. I wonder if that's by design or if it was just the odd song out this weekend.
Isn't it great that we have all of this new music for their live shows? A few years ago I'd assumed we'd have to rely on their fairly extensive catalogue, but not anything new.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Aug 7, 2019 22:53:33 GMT -5
Thought it was worth mentioning that the Rolling Stones are playing the night before the festivities start in Seattle. Unfortunately, we can't make it, but maybe a THS lyric will come true? "So, Hold Steady at the Comfort Inn Mick Jagger's at the Mandarin." (But, I hope the guys are at a nicer hotel.) I don't really have anything to say, other than I love the thought of this.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Jul 13, 2019 23:55:03 GMT -5
I'm on this weird kick recently where I imagine THS covering other songs. Two songs that have come up recently that I think could work: (1) Bruno Mars "Uptown Funk" and (2) Sonic Youth "Eric's Trip".
One that I don't think would work although it should be a natural: Born to Run.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Jun 19, 2019 21:27:39 GMT -5
I’d really love a deluxe edition of HiW. I love that record and go back to it fairly often. I thought I remembered reading around the time it came out that Franz had tracked some keys but they cut them from the LP when he left. It’d be cool to hear a reimagined version. This is probably doubtful, since Craig (and others?) have talked about how HiW and TD are low points for the band so they likely don't have an interest in re-visiting them. But reworking those albums to include Franz would be an interesting exercise.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Jun 19, 2019 21:25:35 GMT -5
I wish Esther was on there too, I'd say in these last couple of years of releasing songs here and there Esther was the best song of the current batch. I like it a little bit more the Entitlement Crew, which I like a lot also. First impression is that it's an out takes record. Better than nothing though. I think "T-shirt" could have also been a nice closer on this record as well, especially with the songs tonal shift & message at the end of the song... "Let's all try to tell a little truth tonight" /fin. ha Yes, T-shirt would work very well as a closer, probably better than Confusion IMO.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Jun 19, 2019 21:23:02 GMT -5
I'm always shocked at the love The Ambassador gets. To me, it's a cloying, mid-tempo dirge, and far and away my least favourite THS song ever. I should probably give it another chance.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on May 23, 2019 12:35:59 GMT -5
While not cheap, we liked staying at the Box Hotel near the tip of Greenpoint, for a few reasons: (1) Greenpoint is fairly sedate, which is a nice break from any Manhattan sightseeing, but still has some good bars and restaurants; (2) you can walk across a pedestrian bridge nearby and be on the subway towards Manhattan in 10 mins; (3) Lake Street Bar, where there seems to be an unofficial after-party after the show each night, is about halfway between the Box Hotel and Brooklyn Bowl. The year before that we stayed at the William Vale right next door to Brooklyn Bowl, which was nice. But I'd only stay there again if I got another good deal on Priceline. The Box House Hotel is very nice. Its sister hotel The Henry Hudson Hotel is also very good – bigger rooms, though no cafe/bar – and is a bit nearer the venue. Also very close to Greenpoint Ave subway (so nice I went back to it when I was in NY on a job a month after the last Massive Nights). I'm staying at the Hoxton this time, a full 50 yards from the venue. I stayed at the Henry Hudson Hotel 3 years ago, and like it just fine as well. I didn't know it was affiliated with the Box Hotel.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on May 22, 2019 12:11:39 GMT -5
While not cheap, we liked staying at the Box Hotel near the tip of Greenpoint, for a few reasons: (1) Greenpoint is fairly sedate, which is a nice break from any Manhattan sightseeing, but still has some good bars and restaurants; (2) you can walk across a pedestrian bridge nearby and be on the subway towards Manhattan in 10 mins; (3) Lake Street Bar, where there seems to be an unofficial after-party after the show each night, is about halfway between the Box Hotel and Brooklyn Bowl.
The year before that we stayed at the William Vale right next door to Brooklyn Bowl, which was nice. But I'd only stay there again if I got another good deal on Priceline.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on May 16, 2019 20:55:29 GMT -5
So, this is kind of weird, but the past few nights they've been using Craig's songs as bumper music during Hockey Night in Canada. First, it was Blankets, and tonight it's been Something to Hope For.
I know Dave Hodge (Canadian HNIC legend, although not there any more) is a big fan. Not sure if that's the connection.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Apr 30, 2019 18:05:49 GMT -5
Since Dan Monick and his photgraphs came up here: After spending some time with the new album, I sort of feel that the cover photos of Faith In The Future and I Need A New War could/should have been swtiched. That shot on FITF is just so in sync with INANW's lyrics, and everything Craig has been talking about in interviews before and around the release. That everyday life and struggles, the alienation, the people living on the edges of the mainstream society. That guy, his outfit, where he's heading, the surroundings - it fills me with the same sort of melancholic and weary emotions of a country I don't really know that well as the songs on the new album does. Not a big deal, really, but still. And about the album: It still talks more to my brain than to my heart. So muscially accomplished, extremely well-written lyrics, lots of beautiful details. And I really dig some of it (Something To Hope For, Bathtub, Grant At Galena my current favourites), but I don't get dragged into it the way I thought I would. I think part of it is how extremely sad it feels. I've heard Craig talk about "melancholy", but I think this is a lot more bitter than bittersweet. A little bit ripped of genuine hope or even a sort of romantic dwelling-in-the-misery kind of thing (and on a side note, maybe because these are really believeable sketches of very ordinary people, and the older i get, the more I think of these portraits as a loooot sadder than the bigger, more classical ways of imaging defeat or loss). Probably very intentional, it's not that I think Craig would have wanted it to sound any different. But I don't know if I'm in the right place to really take it in. It's still growing on me, though. And from a pure intellectual point of view, it's a pretty perfect ending to what now is being labeled as a trilogy. Faith In The Future had a lot of hope in it, We All Want The Same Things had a lot of coming to peace with ordinary life, while I Need A New War seem to focus a lot more of what's missing in subpar ordinary lives than what makes the same lives worthwhile. Ok, this was a bit all over the place. I'll probably get back with some more condensed thoughts a couple of weeks in. I think I feel roughly the same as you, unless I'm misunderstanding. Sounds beautiful, but probably not one to listen to when feeling a bit down and hitting the whiskey. Especially the last two lines of Blankets... I'd actually like to hear Craig do a bunch of songs from the trilogy as an acoustic album. For me, for his solo stuff the lyrics are the thing, and a lot of the musical flourishes I can take or leave, especially on this new album, at least based on my 5 or so listens thus far.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Apr 26, 2019 21:42:42 GMT -5
"You travel your whole life Just to get out to the place you're gonna die"
Wow.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Jan 31, 2019 12:20:49 GMT -5
Hmmm...since I'm not in the US I can't order the digital download directly from Craig's store. I can order through bandcamp, but (1) I would have preferred to order directly; and (2) I won't get the EP. Also, I was going to buy the Be Honest toque as well. Damn.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Jan 27, 2019 10:25:49 GMT -5
It's an amazing collection. A ton of beautiful versions, and so well produced and good-sounding. Hold Steady's track is great, but it's far from the best on it. Yeah THS are my favorite band in the world, but Sonic Youth, Antony & The Johnsons, etc are even better. Probably the best Dylan tribute album ever, and that’s saying something. Craig Finn also has a solo song on an album called Dylan in the 80s, which is how I found out that Nick Cave didn’t write Death Is Not The End. THS’ American Music cover is fantastic. What’s the story behind Bear & The Maiden Fair anyway? I’m the only person in the world who doesn’t watch GOT but how did a guitar band end up on a show set in the Middle Ages? Seems more suited to Joanna Newsom or something. I know Craig’s connected to LOST so is it from that. It’s ironic that their most popular song to the general public is the one where they didn’t write the lyrics. Here's Craig talking about Bear & The Maiden Fair (and Lost): www.recode.net/2017/4/5/15198766/transcript-craig-finn-hold-steady-music-recode-mediaBasically, GoT's creators are fans.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Jan 5, 2019 14:25:37 GMT -5
I saw Craig and Fallon on their solo acoustic tour, Songs from the Hymnal. Fallon's onstage presence was confrontational with anyone in crowd who would call out, hoot, holler, or really make much noise at all. An example of his banter (I'm going by memory here): "See, I'm up here, and I'm the one getting paid, and you're down there and paid to be here, so I get to make noise and you don't." To be fair, he confronted them in a semi-playful manner most of the time, but there was definitely an underlying edge and annoyance to it. I didn't think he came off very well, although most of the rest of the crowd didn't seem to mind.
Also, I wonder what the Fallon fans there would think of Craig, who during this set wore a ballcap and a blazer and came across as quiet and almost timid, if they ever got to see his loud, snarling, gesticulating THS persona.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Dec 15, 2018 23:40:13 GMT -5
Was lucky enough to hear oaks in 2014 in vegas! ...and? I can imagine it being awesome, or not very awesome at all.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Dec 11, 2018 11:14:36 GMT -5
I've not made my way through the demos properly yet but I'm loving the bonus tracks. Hauler, like you said, is a straight up banger. I've never seen it live before and now it's probably the one I want to hear most. [/i][/quote] They played it in Brooklyn this year, which was nice. But I missed the Thursday Brooklyn show, when they played "Hot Fries", so that's probably my white whale now (well, that or "Oaks", which I doubt will happen.)
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Dec 10, 2018 19:43:05 GMT -5
Another thing that struck me is Franz's comments about the band and their style of music. It edged up to the border of almost being condescending, but luckily it didn't get there. Instead he was just frankly observing that the "Cheap Trick"/etc. style of guitar driven rock isn't really his thing. I appreciate his candour.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Dec 7, 2018 10:10:23 GMT -5
I really appreciate that the band (Craig especially), both in this podcast and more generally, don't shy away from talking about the tension between art and commerce, or interpersonal stuff for that matter.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Dec 4, 2018 20:08:31 GMT -5
Haha Craig noticed it too. From his weekend recap: "Friday night the weekend feeling was picking up, and you could tell by the way the crowd sang along to our walk on music: “Lido Shuffle”-the whoa whoas were cranking."
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Dec 3, 2018 17:13:07 GMT -5
Great post/recap Chad! Thanks for ID’ing Lido Shuffle too Best of luck on the new book! Ryan (from San Diego) This will sound very strange, but my favourite single moment from the weekend was singing along to Lido with a very large portion of the crowd as the band walked onto the stage on Friday night. That moment was filled with so much fun and excitement and anticipation and energy. What a time. Thanks for this write up, OP.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Nov 18, 2018 20:32:39 GMT -5
Forgive me, as I’m sure it’s been covered here. Somewhere. I’ve been a fan since AKM. The music has played a big part in my life. Probably straight up saved it a time or two. Met my wife at a show on the HIW tour. I feel like the new singles are the best material they’ve released since at least Stay Positive. I also feel like this is a best of all possible worlds lineup that I’d kill to see live. That said, I can’t justify traveling 1400 miles to catch one of these Northeast residencies. Is this the game plan for the foreseeable future? Any album/tour rumors on the back of these amazing singles? I concur with the above. If you can make any of the residencies work, then go for it. And they haven't all been in the Northeast. I don't where you are, but San Francisco and Chicago this past summer provided other options. If those didn't work, maybe something next year will. Good luck.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Sept 16, 2018 18:15:33 GMT -5
That's Mosh Pit Josh, who handles the merch table.
|
|
|
Post by kayfaberaven on Aug 29, 2018 20:01:58 GMT -5
I lost my shit the first time I heard “she said she was coming but she mostly just made hard, fast noises. It kinda sounded like The Locust.” I didn't get the reference to "The Locust" until I just googled it. Thanks for the heads up.
|
|