The Hold Steady and the Drive-by Truckers, Nov. 8, Electric Factory

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The Hold Steady and the Drive-by Truckers, Nov. 8, Electric Factory

POSTED: Monday, November 10, 2008, 2:56 PM

Filed Under: Music Show

The Hold Steady lead singer Craig Finn didn't talk much during his band's opening slot on Saturday's Rock Means Well tour. He admitted that most of his intra-song banter consisted of baseball talk, but with the Phillies being world champions and all, there wasn't much to discuss. Instead, he talked about his hiatus from music following the dissolution of his arty, yet unpretentious, Lifter Puller. But 2002 Drive-by Truckers show reminded him that, hey, this rockin' out thing looked like fun. If there was one thing both the Hold Steady and Drive-by Truckers got across, it was that they are having the time of their lives.

Finn has gotten his shit together since the last time I caught the Hold Steady, a couple years back. He looks better, he sounds better and his stamina is through the roof. Hardly stopping to take a breather, the Hold Steady blazed through their set. But it wasn't Finn's new, better shape that made him a better performer. Instead, it was his excellent use of the all-important hand clap:

Holding it down with three guitarists and a badass chick bassist, the Drive-by Truckers fulfilled the "Holy shit, I bet this is sick live" promise of their albums. "Where the Devil Won't Stay," from 2004's The Dirty South, was a swirling guitar attack, with each six slinger proving their individual mettle. Singer and guitarist Mike Cooley praciticed a number of rock star poses, all the while a cig dangling out his mouth. Patterson Hood, who also pulls double duty, led the crowd in a barnstorming "Hell No, I Ain't Happy," off of 2003's Decoration Day.

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But the highlight of the night came with the two bands' encore duet, packing the stage with musicians who all seemed to get a huge kick out of the fact they get to do this every night and get paid. Rather than filling the stage with sound, the two bands fed off each other, ending with Neil Young's "Rocking in the Free World." Unlike Young's dumpster baby, everyone at the Electric Factory got to feel cool.

Click the jump for DBT cell pics from Marc Steel.

Lindsey

Posted 2008-11-10 13:55:36

badass chick bassist and mike cooley are tied for the title of new celebrity crush. and if bruce has taught us anything, it's that hand claps always make everything better!

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 2:56 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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