One for the Cutters

The Hold Steady boys are returning Saturday for their second Bloomington show this school year.

The band, which will play alongside The War on Drugs at Jake’s Nightclub, is most famous for its Springsteen-esque, bar-rock style and story-telling lyrics.Lyrical characters such as Charlemagne, Gideon and Holly will also come along for the ride, as lead singer Craig Finn twists the three characters’ stories into plot-filled
lyrics.

Since its Nov. 13 visit to the Bluebird Nightclub, the group has been on a whirlwind tour across the United States.

IU alumnus Ben Leonard attended the November gig and said the band put on a tremendous live show.

“They really appear to love making music and are having fun on stage, which translates directly to a great experience for the audience,” he said.

Leonard also commended the band for its songs’ story-telling lyrics.

“It keeps you listening and makes you feel like you are in some sort of secret Hold Steady club when you know what or who they are talking about,” he said.

The band’s most recent album, “Stay Positive,” which was released July 15, received rave reviews and landed at No. 29 on Pitchfork Media’s The 50 Best Albums of 2008.

The album featured upbeat singles such as “Sequestered in Memphis” and “Constructive Summer,” which was No. 56 on Rolling Stone’s list of 100 Best Songs of 2008.

Three days after The Hold Steady perform at Jake’s, its first live album and tour
documentary dual disc will enter stores. It will contain tracks performed at a 2007 Chicago show as well as two unreleased tracks titled “Spectres” and “40
Bucks.”

The DVD has concert footage dating back to their 2006 tour and also includes interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

WIUX Station Manager Craig Shank, who caught a few of The Hold Steady songs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago last summer, said he is looking forward to the show.

“The Hold Steady seem to put a great deal of themselves into each performance,” he said.

He also divulged that the band’s song “One For The Cutters” might be an appropriate tune for the show due to its Bloomington references.

Listeners will have to wait for Saturday to see if the boys perform the geographically appropriate song.