The Hold Steady is a energetic rock band out of Minnesota, now in Brooklyn. I heard a concert on NPR All Songs Considered podcast and was charmed despite their many sophomoric tendencies. I was young once, and stupid. The concert can be heard here.

"they say you dont have a problem until you start to do it alone.
they say you dont have a problem until you start bringing it home.
they say you dont have a problem until you start sleeping alone."

These lines from song "You Can Make Him Like You" made me laugh out loud.

I have not bought their CD, probably will never, and I do not think it will be hardly any one's cup of drug laced tea. Snippets of the lyrics are smart and the guitarist is solid (listen to end of concert) and they are funny.

Yes, they boast too much about liquor and drug use, so I cannot play this for my twelve year old or many friends - maybe most here. Drugs have killed too many people, many innocent, all along the path to the very mighty big dollars.

I am not sure if this can be access to NPR overseas. Be warned, you may hate it.

For something more sedate and more hauntingly beautiful, try the Nickel Creek concert, instead. Or maybe Bjork here.. Or possibly Neko, yes. There is so much music here. Much of it live, with all its inherent energy and flaws.


Neko Case Rocks

All free - rock, classical, world, jazz - something for everyone. Click here anytime. This is the real thrust of this post.