a week and play some music and drink some beer, with no expectations. We did it because we loved it. And that’s how Te Hold Steady started. We’ve been all over the world and had six records out since then. When we started to play shows and started a bit of modest touring, we saw that there was a place for what we were doing and people liked it, so as that continued we set our goals a little higher each time.
How did you get your foot on the musical ladder? A couple of guys from the Upright Citizens Brigade, a comedy troupe here in New York, had a little spin off show on the first Tursday of the month at Arlene’s Grocery, a little club on the East Side. Tey wanted a house band, like something you’d see on Letterman, to play classic rock songs in between skits. It was so much fun to play the music which I learnt how to play guitar with. Rock n roll always sounds good! Te indie rock scene seemed to have other motives other than seeking out joy; it was more exclusive. Rock ‘n’ roll is just about having fun.
Why are you called Te Hold Steady? We didn’t have a name when we started playing at Arlene’s Grocery, but as soon as we started having our own shows we needed a name. Craig wanted something which was a command or a directive, and he came up with Te Hold Steady. At first I thought people might think we were a ska band, but I did think it was a good one. It’s so hard to name bands; it’s either too clever or too dumb.
You’ve been going for 10 years now and have some very loyal fans. Is your relationship with them closer now as a result of Twitter and Facebook? Yes, absolutely. I think that’s one of the most special things about our band; it’s very inclusive, and we like people to feel they are a part of something. I’ve heard so many people say I never mind going to a Hold Steady show by myself as I know I’ll see a couple hundred people there who will be friendly. Te community around the band is something that we’ve been really fortunate with, and really try to celebrate.
Do you fight about what’s played in the tour bus? Now that we’re on a bus, with technology as it is, it can sometimes be that everyone’s got their own iPod or iPad and headphones on and is in their own little world. It isn’t like it was back in the day when we toured in a van; we always had Dealer’s Choice, where the person who
18 / October 2014/
outlineonline.co.uk
IS JUST ABOUT HAVING FUN!
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
was driving chose the music. In those days we listened to a lot of books on tape or live comedy records which was a nice break as we are bombarded with music all the time; if you’re not playing you’re doing the soundcheck, or watching the opening band. I would say after a few hours after a gig these days, after we’ve had a few drinks and we’re back on the bus we take turns to play each other great music we’ve heard. Tat’s one of the exciting parts about playing in a band; sharing what inspires you personally with everyone else. Steve and I are big Zeppelin fans, and he has more live bootleg tapes of Zeppelin shows than anyone else I know. Also we really love Kiss live shows as they’re so ridiculous. Some of the more recent bands that have come out that we’ve been listening to including White Denim, Father John Misty, Te Donkeys from San Diego and the new War of Drugs record.
Do you think non Americans ‘get’ Te Hold Steady as naturally as Americans? Is it a particularly American sound in your opinion? Most of the music that I love and that I am inspired by is actually by English bands. Everything from Te Smiths to Te Stone Roses, Primal Scream, Oasis, all the way back to Black Sabbath and Te Who. When you get back to 60’s and 70’s rock from England, the American Blues inspired most of those guys, so it’s hard to
say. I would say that we are classified as a very American band, and I think a lot of that has to do with the narrative thread in our songs. Craig’s lyrics are so specific and they reference a lot of geographic places that are American. When you get into other parts of Europe and the world where not a lot of people speak English, as we are a lyrically dense band, people might not connect to it quite as well.
Te Hold Steady are well known for their fantastic lyrics. What’s your song writing process? Te music always comes first, and then I’ll give him a rough demo or a couple of ideas to work on. In fact on the last record, the songs were pretty much finished by the time I gave them to him. It’s actually not something we ever talk about which is weird. Tere have been times when I’ve tried to say “Hey, why don’t you give me a finished set of lyrics?” but Craig is always rewriting until stuff goes to tape. Te lyrics are always in flux until they’re recorded and then they’re done.
Lizz Page
MORE INFORMATION
Te Hold Steady play at Epic Studios as part of Norwich
Sound & Vision on 11th October. Tickets from
ueaticketbookings.co.uk
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