The Hold Steady Sell Out Music Hall of Williamsburg!!

Craig Finn’s emotional outpouring on at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Feb 5, 2014

(Photos: MJB @Thunderbird Ranch Ramble)

Although they are obviously very different types of musicians, there is something similar between Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips, Patterson Hood from the Drive-by Truckers and Craig Finn of The Hold Steady.

They all have this preacher-type “scream-at-you” singing style that gets you “on the bus”…drinking whatever Kool-Aid they are serving that night.

With my glass of purple Kool-Aid (and gin), I rocked and rolled with The Hold Steady (website) and a sweaty full house at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (website) in Brooklyn. The band was in full force out promoting its new album “Teeth Dreams” to its hometown fans.

From the stage right area (where two years prior I was able to witness up-close and personal the Alabama Shakes on the same stage… also with me music mate… Charles The Great).

Nothing says The Hold Steady (or Drive-by Truckers for that matter) than a big styrofoam cup (large please) of Makers and Diet…50/50 mix of course…from Brooklyn’s famous Turkey’s Nest (on Yelp).

I admit, other than a few WFUV-FM steadies (pun intended)… I am not familiar with The Hold Steady song catalog. Like great rock bands I’ve written about before, it didn’t matter… I belonged.

Here is the full setlist…”Sequestered in Memphis” is a fav of mine.

Thanks to the Kool-aid chug, I’m also a disciple too. Even been toting around a “cocktails and dreams” button on my favorite fleece vest for last two weeks.