Happy 4th to all who celebrate - let's remember this country was founded on standing up against government bullshit.
Our first day of best lyrics goes to "She said it's good to see you back in a bar band, baby/I said it's great to see you're still in the bars"
Up next what's the best lyric or line from Separation Sunday?
Best B-Side from Separation Sunday goes to 212-Margarita.
Up next, what's the best B-side from Almost Killed Me?
Also, Thanks to a suggestion from...someone (sorry forgot who recommended it) I added another row for best lyric so we can keep the good times rolling.
Who are the best bands/artists you’ve seen open for The Hold Steady? I’ve only been to eight shows, but a few of the openers have stuck with me:
Thick Lizzy (Jersey City, 2025): Gowanus, Brooklyn’s premier Thin Lizzy tribute band. Extremely committed to the bit and rocked so hard. I don’t think I’ve been to many shows where the openers commanded a level of energy comparable to the main act.
Good Looks (Brooklyn, 2024): Indie band from Austin who made the trip north. Earnest but fun, they reminded me a bit of (former openers) The War on Drugs. Can’t wait to hear a new album from them.
Pkew Pkew Pkew (Toronto, 2018): Super fun local punk band with three members taking turns on lead vocals. I hadn’t heard of them prior to the show but quickly became a fan and had their album on repeat the whole ride home from Canada.
Honorable mention to Positive Jam Fest, 2023. I don’t think it’s fair to count Guided By Voices(!!) as an opener, but the whole lineup was solid: Oceanator, Laura Stevenson, The Tallest Man on Earth. They had a really solid Talking Heads tribute act, too.
According to the group, Records & Tapes is the best B-side from Teeth Dreams.
Up next, what’s the best B-side from Heaven is Whenever?
Thrashing Through the Passion B-sides are an embarrassment of riches but the consensus says the best of them is Esther.
Up next, what’s the best B-side from Teeth Dreams?
Since we are on to B-sides/non album tracks in the alignment chart, I thought I'd post the list of every non-album track I know of. Let me know if I missed anything.
Also, if anyone has a studio version of Meet Me in the Lobby or Let's Get Awesome, please send it along.
Milkcrate Mosh
Hot Fries
Curves & Nerves
Modesto is not That Sweet
You Gotta Dance (With Who You Came to the Dance With)
212-Margarita
The Most Important Thing
Girls Like Status
Arms & Hearts
For Boston
Teenage Liberation
American Music (Violent Femmes cover)
Against The Wind (Bob Seger cover)
Ask Her For Some Adderall
Two Handed Handshake
Cheyenne Sunrise
Specters
40 Bucks
This Isn't Enough
You Tremble
Ballad of the Midnight Hauler
Take me Out to the Ball Game
Atlantic City (Bruce Springsteen cover)
Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? (Bob Dylan cover)
Ascension Blues
Touchless
Separate Vacations
Criminal Fingers
Beer on the Bedstand
At Least Not Tonight
Wonderful Struggle
Going on a Hike
Records & Tapes
Saddle Shoes
Look Alive
All Through The City (Dr. Feelgood cover)
Closer to the Stars (Soul Asylum cover)
Hard Luck Woman (KISS cover)
I Gotta Get Drunk (Willie Nelson cover)
The Last Thing I Ever Wanted Was to Show Up and Blow Your Mind (Those Bastard Souls cover)
The Bear and the Maiden Fair
Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You (Billy Squier cover)
A Snake in the Shower
Eureka
Esther
The Last Time She Talked to Me
Parade Days
Radar & Leda
The Death of the Punchline
Meet Me in the Lobby
Let's Get Awesome
Official Live Releases (Non Bandcamp Bootlegs):
A Positive Rage
Live at Fingerprints
Live at Lolapalooza 2006
Despite a valiant effort from the Woo Crew (that included a Facebook recruiting tactic), a simple line from a song won - "The way you want them to love you"
For our final live moment, what's the best one from The Price of Progress?
Best live moment from Thrashing goes to the line "Local legends with the faraway eyes, I wanna make you feel protected and high." Personally, I love those harmonies so this one is great with me.
Up next, best live moment from Open Door Policy.