posted by Savanah on Mar 19
New York is supposed to have a reputation lately for recent turns to vapid interests among the locals, and a general lack of depth in thought. Who knows why, perhaps it’s because it was held so high for all things intellectual and complex for so long. However, it can’t last long, and it won’t last long, because this is New York, and the people who live here are always testing each other.
It keeps things fresh, and it keeps minds sharp, and sometimes it makes for excellent art. These are some of the reasons why hotels like these continue to attract visitors wanting to see if the energy is still strong here. For those of us who are paying attention, it obviously is. And there are lots of splendid local things to see, and work to enjoy. One of the best things about the city is that you can sit in a small club, and hear a band play live music, and the sound is so good you wonder why they’re not famous. But then you discover that they are famous, and just want to play some small gigs for their fans here.
This is how groups like the Hold Steady seem to operate, and it’s great news for their peers at home. Based in Brooklyn, the Hold Steady are quietly picking up steam, and their music is making its way through the world.
This is good news for the world as well as for the band, because this is pretty smart and catchy stuff. With the members quoting Kerouac and talking about Beat culture in depth, we return to another New York again, where the anti-intellectual seems to be taking a back seat in favor of reason, and we get to enjoy moments of articulate bliss. The style is by turns sloppy and well-coordinated, but always slick and intentional. High energy rules their shows, and there’s no sense here that this is a boy band.
Looking more like your friends at a barbecue than supermodels turned into pop stars, there is a camaraderie here that commands an open ear, and a sharp mind.
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