i've been spoiled. a couple months ago i drove to morgantown to see the hold steady at 123 pleasant street (which is a little smaller than little brothers was). there were probably 100 people there total - it is west virginia, after all - which was disappointing, but the show was magical and intimate.

the newport show was not that. plenty of people, though the demographic the band pulls now is very different. a lot more brah types, but at least they weren't violent like the cleveland show a couple of months back.

two cow garage got added in the days leading up to the show. they played great, but the house sound sapped the energy out of the performance. the touring sound guy the hold steady brought with them didn't run the board for them, and there was a marked difference. bummer.

the whigs. um. i guess i don't hate them, but they did nothing to draw my attention. i know cd101's been playing them and it showed in the crowd reaction, but it doesn't really do it for me.

the hold steady replaced franz nicolay with two people: keys and guitar. they sound a lot thicker now. some of the guitar riffs even venture into thin lizzy territory, which is OK by me. craig finn is still really fun to watch. i know there are a lot of haters out there, but this band has been putting on consistently good live shows for a long time now.

nice setlist. some new-ish stuff i didn't recognize, but more than enough "hits." just under two hours (with encore).

hornets! hornets!
sequestered in memphis
hurricane j
the swish
constructive summer
hot soft light
rock problems
stevie nix
?
? (one of these two might have been ascension blues, not sure.)
? (finn said this was a new one)
barfruit blues
? (maybe magazines?)
we can get together
the weekenders
southtown girls
stuck between stations
your little hoodrat friend
stay positive
how a resurrection really feels

encore:
massive nights
chicago seemed tired last night
killer parties


maybe spine of teeth can help me fill in the blanks. those giant beers did a number on my attention span and my note-taking abilities.

I left after the weekenders due to an early meeting today.

I thought 2 cows set was one of the best Ive ever seen 'em play. Then new songs rip

I couldnt agree more with you about the whigs

i caught the hold steady a couple of years ago at the newport when they were there on St. Patty's day. I think it was 2007, my wife was prego so she couldnt party and she still had a blast.. Sad I missed this, but blew all my allowance at PLBO.

Last night was my first time seeing them since Franz left the band, and in my opinion they were the best I've ever seen them. Great show.