AltWeeklies Wire
The Hold Steady Goes Beyond the 'Matsnew

The extra-strength aesthetic of Heaven is Whenever suits the hearty themes of Craig Finn's latest songs.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
09-22-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: The Hold Steady
The Hold Steady Do Exactly That on 'Stay Positive'
The Brooklyn rockers do what they do best on their latest album.
How the Drive-By Truckers Met The Hold Steadynew
While it's no surprise that bottle rockets and plenty of mischief-making have come into the mix, the meeting of DBT frontman Patterson Hood and Hold Steady guitarist Tad Kubler involves interests as brainy as they are bacchanalian.
Seattle Weekly |
Hannah Levin |
11-25-2008 |
Music
The Drive-By Truckers and The Hold Steady Consummate Their Mutual Crushnew
For a certain breed of rock fan -- those who like their rock literate and loud -- this tour is a wondrous fantasy, Hanukkah come early, OMFG. But for all the mutual man love going around, the two bands don't necessarily seem like a logical pairing.
Nashville Scene |
Lee Stabert |
10-31-2008 |
Music
Critical Darlings the Hold Steady Deliver Againnew
Essentially, the Hold Steady is Springsteen for people raised on "all-ages hardcore matinee shows."
The Memphis Flyer |
Chris Herrington |
08-08-2008 |
Reviews
Socio-Economic Anxiety Never Rocked as Hard as it Does on the Hold Steady's Latestnew
Though the Hold Steady's musical style has always been of the lunchpail-swingin' bar-rock variety, Craig Finn's lyrics have usually been less about the rundown poor than the burned-out party kids. That changes on Stay Positive: Finn more directly addresses working-class themes, spinning tales of slightly older characters who are actually sweating their way through the drudgery.
Washington City Paper |
David Dunlap Jr. |
07-10-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: The Hold Steady, Stay Positive
Home for the Holidays With the Hold Steadynew

The latest, greatest success from the Twin Cities returns to the wellspring of its creativity.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Jeff Severns Guntzel |
12-05-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Hold Steady
The Hold Steady's Love-Hate Relationship With 'Bar Band'new
The members of the band seem to have embraced the label, even though guitarist Tad Kubler realizes it can carry some negative connotations.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Alan Sculley |
11-13-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Hold Steady
Holding Steadynew
Tad Kubler talks about BMX, booze and Boys and Girls in America.
LEO Weekly |
Mat Herron |
12-04-2006 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Hold Steady
Stations of the Bossnew

The Hold Steady get lit, literate.
Washington City Paper |
David Dunlap Jr. |
10-13-2006 |
Reviews
The Hold Steady Slipsnew
This album extends Craig Finn's Bruce Springsteen-meets-Jack Kerouac babbling into anthemic, piano-anchored choruses but with as much -- if not more -- lyrical malady as melody.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Tony Ware |
09-28-2006 |
Reviews
Drugged and Disorderlynew

The Hold Steady keeps it cinematic.
Houston Press |
Scott Faingold |
02-14-2006 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Hold Steady
Soul Ridenew
The Hold Steady's music is about trying to find the middle between two extremes. And mixing the extremes ain't easy.
Tucson Weekly |
Annie Holub |
10-20-2005 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Hold Steady, Separation Sunday