Yahoo! Music Review

Gig played on 17/12/08

"I can't believe it's Christmas already / Hello London, we're The Hold Steady!" bellows the undimmable Craig "I'm Not Old, I'm Old School" Finn, twisting the lyrics out of season for pumping-power chord opener "Constructive Summer". It would be a cheesy ad lib in most people's hands, it's not entirely aroma free in his, but it's hard not to forgive the indulgence coming from a man so obviously pure of intention. It'd be like wanting to garrotte Roy Wood for announcing Christmas' arrival. And the excitement is understandable; this is the final show of their biggest year to date, in the biggest venue they've ever played. You'd be full of cheers, beers and cheese on sticks too.

Their latest record, "Stay Positive", may have done little to advance their no-frills template apart from landing their label with a bigger studio tab (and "Boys & Girls In America" remains their must-have album regardless), but it at least reloaded their holster and gave them an excuse to get back on the road. Their three-part "Dancing In The Dark", two-part Husker Du and one-part "Livin' On A Prayer" pro-forma will never make them the cool kids, but it's immediately effective, performed devoid of airs or graces, giving audience and band alike much to throw themselves into vocally, physically and even spiritually.

All eyes are on the fired-up Finn, a beguiling spectre splicing genes from Danny DeVito and Dave Grohl. A guitar hangs around his neck though it's hard to work out why; he spends so much time arms aloft, hands darting in front of him channelling the soul of the song through his finger-tips like he's preaching in some form of sign language. Even when he's out of words to sing Finn's at the lip of the stage babbling incoherent elation to fill in the gaps. He is both Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio outstretched on the bow of the Titanic, and twice as slushy. He's got it big time for rock'n'roll and he doesn't care who knows it.

At 90 minutes it's not all killer, but every song is played like it has a life sentence and that feels good enough for this love in. "Lord, I'm Discouraged" is in danger of tipping over into ridiculousness with moustachioed keys man Franz Nicolay massaging an accordion and Tad Kubler sporting a double-necked guitar which he jerks into full gear for its "November Rain" solo, but like much of their set pulls back into a beautiful indulgent bliss. "We're The Hold Steady, stay positive", declares Finn. In their company it's hard not to.

by James Berry