The Hold Steady 4/3 (U of I), 4/4 (Bloomington), and 4/6 (STL)

[dissident]

me and a friend went on a 3 show long weekend hold steady trip on their current tour hitting mostly colleges and college towns. anyway, off to the shows.

4/3/09 University of Illinois, Champagne IL.

Constructive Summer
Hot Soft Light
Chips Ahoy!
Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night
Sequestered in Memphis
Magazines
One For The Cutters
Cheyenne Sunrise
Your Little Hoodrat Friend
Jokes About Jamaica
Massive Nights
Party Pit
Stuck Between Stations
Hornets! Hornets!
Most People Are DJ's
You Can Make Him Like You
Slapped Actress
----
Stevie Nix
Stay Positive
How A Resurrection Really Feels

this was the poorest planned show i've ever been a part of. it was held in one of their main eating halls with all the tables cleared out and a stage that was nothing more than half a stair step high. being a foot away from the band at eye level is an amazing experience but the "barricade" was plastic poles with fabric stretched between them like at a movie theatre. opening with constructive summer it completely disapearred in 30 seconds and being in the front row we found ourselves being shoved forward onto their equipment. some drunk chick fell into franz's keyboard and broke his stand, craig's monitor broke during the climax of massive nights and the incredible roadie was fixing it with a flashlight underneath a dogpile of people. during the vocal intro to hornets hornets craig finally had to stop and force us back a few steps which helped until the song actually kicked in. overall, i've been a part of much more violent crowds and i had a blast and it was incredible to see a band of their size that intimately. but it did cause for problems.

[dissident]

4/4 Jake's Bar and Nightclub, Bloomington, IN

Positive Jam (!)
Magazines
Chips Ahoy
Sequestered In Memphis
Two Handed Handshake
Navy Sheets
Bangin' Camp
One For The Cutters
Massive Nights
Party Pit
You Can Make Him Like You
Milkcrate Mosh
Yeah Sapphire
Lord, I'm Discouraged
Hornets! Hornets!
Your Little Hoodrat Friend (dedicated to us road trippers by name)
Stay Positive
Slapped Actress
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First Night
Stuck Between Stations
Killer Parties

fantastic show at an actual bar selling liquor with an actual stage. there wasn't as much pushing but a good solid energy in the crowd and the band in visibly better spirits. he dedicated hoodrat friend to us who had been to the last few shows. we got to meet the members of The War On Drugs again, the opening band who are fucking phenomenal and the nicest guys. i picked up a positve rage at the merch booth, hung around for a bit and got to meet franz. he's cool, really down to earth and a natural entertainer.

[dissident]

4/6 The Gargoyle at Washington University. St. Louis, MO

Massive Nights
Constructive Summer
Hot Soft Light
Yeah Sapphire
Chips Ahoy
Navy Sheets
Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night
Magazines
One For The Cutters
You Gotta Dance (With Who You Came to the Dance With)
Sequestered In Memphis
The Swish
Party Pit
Modesto's Not That Sweet
Same Kooks
Stevie Nix
Ask Her For Adderall
Hornets! Hornets!
How A Resurrection Really Feels
-----
Stuck Between Stations
Stay Positive
Slapped Actress /

Easily the best show of the three. it was a nice mix between the first two shows as far as setup goes. a stage little more than knee high but with a nice respectful but energetic crowd. this really showed their versatility with their setlists as this was the first show they have played without firm set written out beforehound. the first two songs, cutters and hornets were the only songs written out the other spots had question marks. for the third night in a row we were front row this time dead center in front of craig. it was a phenomenal experience and the band collectively but especially craig were in great spirits. he's always animated and goofy but tonight he was just over the top giddy and couldn't contain himself. since the venue is in the basement of the edison theatre we got to watch their soundcheck and they played a few new songs, mostly mellow. also got to talk to war on drugs a few more times. tad from the hold steady gave me a set at the last show, and tonight gave my friend mike the set. i did snag a pick though so all is well.

[ACA]

good christ.

i would kill to be at them all.

[dissident]

i've never seen a band of that size in a place like u of i. it was like a basement show. fucking insane.

[ZoSo1886]

these sets make me completely stoked for my dates @ music hall of williamsburg and starland ballroom

[TMS2787]

Awesome you got to see them three times in four days.