ISSUE #74 / August 29, 2019

The Hold Steady / 📷 : MVM

Dad-rock is still kicking, and with The Hold Steady making a triumphant return, there is no sign it’s slowing down. Feeling like an outsider without my fedora, alongside twenty-year-old band shirts that most millennials would have had to buy either at Goodwill or steal from their parents, there was a real authenticity amongst the fans who showed up for a nearly sold-out Thursday night show. Thalia Hall was the only one of the three shows not to sell out, but the packed house left me thinking otherwise. With an older crowd, the “cool kids” rule does not apply; you do not wear the shirt to the show. There were plenty of people present donning The Hold Steady duds from past shows or the T-shirts made up for the three-night run; perfect marketing as the football season is nearly upon us and Chicago Bears themes run throughout.

Toronto-based Pkew Pkew Pkew,( the K is silent), started the night with their ‘90s alt-rock /in-your-face punk attitude. The group is about drinking, skateboarding, pizza, and a fresh Pope. “Before We Go Out Drinking” is an anthem about pre-gaming and enjoying the cheap beers at home before having to pay full price at the bar. As the group began their raucous set, they jammed from “Glory Days,” (their jab at people who peaked during high school and never leave their hometowns and act like they are king of the town because they were popular as teenagers,) to “Let’s Order a Pizza,” the staple of many who are trying to settle a stomach full of alcohol. As most people who grew up around Chicago or the suburbs know what the Wisconsin Dells are and when Pkewx3 played, “The Polynesian” instantly connected with the crowd; the indoor water park was built for family fun and full of Wisconsin natives hating the influx of people from Illinois descending upon them. 

The Hold Steady’s recently released album, Thrashing Thru The Passion, and Craig Finn’s birthday were both being celebrated on Thursday night, equally important to the band because the new album marks their first release in five years, and Finn could not have looked any more excited to be performing. The group enlisted nearly their entire catalog to start their weekend in Chicago. Craig Finn is an example to all aspiring artists who think that their time has past and it’s too late to make a change. Finn shared the story of how started The Hold Steady, as he was 31 years old and working an office job, got bored with it, and started a band. Sounds easy enough. All you need then is Finn’s ability to be one of the best songwriters who recognizes the intricacies of everyday life. The night was billed as The Hold Steady, but unbeknownst to listeners, it turned out to be The Hold Steady and Crowd. With each song that the group pulled out, no matter its age, the crowd was right there with Finn singing along; the older the song, the more the crowd joined in. From beginner “You Did Good Kid,” to “Sequestered in Memphis,” to “Killer Parties” and “Stuck Between Stations,” Finn’s vocals were nearly drowned out by the crowd. The band acknowledged this level of support with an on-point performance and let the crowd know that, “We are ALL The Hold Steady.” The group had some fun with their encore and came back and to state that they felt like the older brother in music, and what do older brothers do? They steal from their little brothers, and the group did just that by performing Pkew Pkew Pkew’s “Fresh Pope,” which Pkewx3 performed earlier in the night. A nice little nod to the up-and-comers.

   -MVM