The Hold Steady’s four-night stand at Brooklyn Bowl lived up to its “Massive Nights” billing. Helping to make each night a little different was a unique arrangement of opening acts: Patterson Hood, Cayetana, The Whigs and Frank Turner. What remained constant, however, was The Hold Steady’s hard-rocking sound, with guitarists Tab Kubler and Steve Selvidge laying down heavy riffs and blistering solos. Frontman and chief songwriter Craig Finn whipped things up, pointing and pleading, jumping and fist-pumping with the crowd. The setlists varied from night to night, but each display was deep with songs from the 2006 classic, Boys and Girls in America (“Stuck Between Stations,” “Chips Ahoy,” “You Can Make Him Like You,” “South Town Girls” and, of course, “Massive Nights”). In between other favorites such as “Sequestered in Memphis,” “The Sweet Part of the City” and “Killer Parties,” the band worked in two new songs, “Entitlement Crew” and “A Snake in the Shower.” With Galen Polivka on bass, Bobby Drake on drums and Franz Nicolay on keyboards, The Hold Steady are relentless, transitioning from song to song with only an occasional break in between for Finn’s sardonic commentary. This was the second year in a row the band has held a multi-night run at Brooklyn Bowl to kick off the holiday season. Let’s hope it’s a tradition that endures.
Check out the full gallery below from Lou Montesano.
