The Hold Steady - Private Show

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to get tickets to an invite-only show put on by Jack Daniels featuring The Hold Steady. The show was at our favorite Portland music venue the Crystal Ballroom on a cold rainy Monday night. There were free Jack Daniels themed drinks, pizza, and giveaways. The opening bands were decent, Suburban Anthem was first up and they were sort of the same vain as All-American Rejects or perhaps Blink-182. The second opening band, Morning Teleportation, has recently relocated to Portland from Austin, TX...so take that Austin! The band had a great sound (you can stream their songs on myspace), and they might just be a band to keep an eye on.

Now to the main event!! The Hold Steady were amazing, as if there was any doubt. We positioned ourselves front and center, just one row back from the stage. Craig Finn and band were on fire, they played non-stop for 2 hours. They played a lot of songs off of their Almost Killed Me, and Separation Sunday albums, which I had not had the pleasure to see performed live. The band also played their standard rocking songs like Chips Ahoy!, Massive Nights, Party Pit, Sequestered in Memphis, etc. Of course they ended show with Stay Positive, which left us so pumped up. The show was great but with that said there is one thing to take away from the experience if you plan to be up close and personal at a Hold Steady show be prepared for the spit to fly...Peter called it Finn Rain (so germaphobes beware). But it was worth it, I would do it again in a heartbeat. And now here are the pictures.