Live: The Hold Steady @ Brooklyn Bazaar 12.17.11

So The Hold Steady decided to wrap up the year with a couple of shows, pre-Craig solo record duties. After a cold jump across the bridge and Drew saving my stupid ass with a lock loan, I posted up at the Bazaar warehouse space down on Kent.

Man alive is that a big fucking space. So big that I literally had to ask directions to find the ginormous space the rock was being held in. Found Eric and that I had missed the seemingly-decent-personally-but-snooze-o-rific-every-time-I've-seen-them-live Titus Andronicus. Looking at the calendar, I'm bummed that this show wasn't with Fucked Up, but either way they got points for starting on time.

Wasn't the best Hold Steady show I've seen, but this one was remarkable for being a bad Craig show. Not bad bad, but there were some dropped lyrics and the whole vibe was a little off. Sound was good for a cavernous pre-fab space, as was the set. I will continue to carp about the lack of keys in general and Franz in particular, but The Hold Steady are quite a rock force to be reckoned with even on an off night. I'm intrigued to hear what the Craig solo set is like. I hear maybe we'll get some new THS fourth quarter. Stay tuned for details. Set list is below.

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1. Hurricane J 
2. Sequestered in Memphis 
3. Banging Camp 
4. Chips Ahoy! 
5. Rock Problems 
6. Magazines 
7. You Gotta Dance 
8. The Swish 
9. You Can Make Him Like You 
10. Your Little Hoodrat Friend 
11. Girls Like Status 
12. Stevie Nix 
13. Constructive Summer 
14. Hot Soft Light 
15. Lord, I'm Discouraged 
16. The Weekenders 
17. Southtown Girls 
18. Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night 
19. Stuck Between Stations 
20. How a Resurrection Really Feels 
21. Encore:
21. Christmas Must Be Tonight 
    (Robbie Robertson cover)
22. Massive Nights 
23. Stay Positive 
    (with Titus Andronicus)