The Hold Steady took the stage at New York’s Brooklyn Bowl on Wednesday for the first of a four-show, Massive Nights run. As a special surprise for the NYC crowd, the band welcomed Zopa vocalist/The Sopranos actor Michael Imperioli, as well as Augusta Koch, for a sit-in midway through the show.
Led by frontman Craig Finn, the Brooklyn-based sextet arrived fresh off a several-week break. Members Finn, Tad Kubler, Galen Polivka, Bobby Drake, Franz Nicolay, and Steve Selvidge recently spent two nights at their former home base in Minneapolis, MN, with shows at First Avenue on November 13th–14th. The Hold Steady treated fans at Brooklyn Bowl to a 20-song setlist of alternative and indie rock tracks. Older cuts like 2004’s “Barfruit Blues” and 2008’s “Constructive Summer” made appearances throughout the show, as well as newer tracks like “Lanyards”, from 2021’s Open Door Policy album.
Related: What Concerts, Tours, & Music Festivals Were Announced This Week? [Updates]
One of the night’s highlights came around the mid-point, as Imperioli and Koch joined The Hold Steady on “Chillout Tent”, which initially appeared on the band’s 2016 album, Boys And Girls in America. After his band opened the show earlier in the evening, Imperioli lent some vocal aid on this by-the-book cut of “Chillout Tent” alongside Koch.
The Hold Steady w/Michael Imperioli, Augusta Koch – “Chillout Tent” – 12/1/21
[Video: themeboudin]
The Hold Steady will perform three more nights at the venue, on December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. From there, a long layoff will lead the band to London, England on March 4th–6th. Head to the band’s website for tickets and additional tour information.
Scroll down for a gallery of images from night one at the Brooklyn Bowl, courtesy of photographers Ken Spielman and Andrew Blackstein. Additionally, check out a setlist of the performance below.
