Comments on: Beards, Blazers & Glasses: The Hold Steady

By: Scott T. Sterling

Scott T. Sterling — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:53:58 +0000

I’m always happy to co-sign when someone is so genuinely excited about a band. Great stuff.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:17:04 +0000

i hate the reasons one might not like the HS. none of them have anything to do with music. i prefer awesome songs and guys loving to perform those songs over socially constructed coolness any day.

By: Tray

Tray — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:54:56 +0000

“Is it safe to say, with the decade winding down, that the “Shins will change your life” scene in “Garden State” is the worst sequence in any non-critically reviled movie made in the last 10 years.”

I mean, if you just go to rottentomatoes and see the percentage of critics who liked Garden State, you’d have to say it wasn’t a critically reviled movie… but in the same way that Crash was bashed by every critic who actually knows what they’re talking about, Garden State was too. So it can’t count. Besides, that scene is bad in a funny way so it can’t be the worst. My nomination would be any scene in Million Dollar Baby, but if I had to pick one, perhaps the cringingly disgusting scene where Hillary Swank’s family comes to visit her from Disney World to get her money. Manipulation of the audience in the worst way, coupled with really sickening stereotypical portrayals of rednecks. Second place might be the scene where Clint starts yammering about lemon meringue pie.

By: Zach

Zach — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:05:32 +0000

I totally thought I somehow blanked and missed the LA tour stop when I saw this headline. I freaked out a little bit, quickly went to their website and saw that they haven’t came to LA yet. Promptly purchased two tickets. Then started playing Hold Steady songs then finished reading.

By: Jere

Jere — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:54:52 +0000

Glad to see someone on the same page about The Hold Steady, Garden State AND Crash.

I almost went to that show, but I was low on cash when it came time to buy tickets. Saw them at a free gig in Boston (about a week before Stay Positive came out). ‘Twas the best show I’ve seen this year.

By: douglas martin

douglas martin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:57:34 +0000

i totally want to catch a hold steady show; from your review (and those from various blogging friends), it sounds like such the most euphoric rock show for lit-nerds. more rock bands should have lit-nerds in their demographic; no offense to the decemberists, but it’s hard to lift your beer in the air to “the chimbley sweep.”