The Hold Steady, Radio Day Stage, SXSW, Austin, Friday 14 March 2014

The Hold Steady came on to the biggest crowd rushing to the front of the Radio Stage, together with an army of photographers.

The band opened with a restrained song which was like a deep-breath meditation on playing shows with nice backing harmonies from the guitarists. They then burst into a full- hearted rocker from their new album, and the third song was more punky and brought cheers of recognition from the crowd.  'The Ambassador' from their new album was quieter with a country-tinged beat driving it. It sounded more like REM than the punky rock of the songs earlier in the set.

 The singer said the band were having a great time and really looked like it too. The audience certainly were. They loved the off-mic interaction.

The band created a total wall of rock guitar sound, like a multiple-tracked studio creation, rather than five guys rocking out and bopping along in front of us, and had the greatest-sounding rock guitars we've heard at SXSW this year.

Other SXSW 2014 reviews from Broken Biscuit Records:
Damon Albarn
Gruff Rhys
Woman’s Hour
Wolf Alice
Jeremy Messersmith