The Hold Steady

[Editor's note: So far as we know, all Athenians in Austin are accounted for and well after the horrific late-night incident outside the Mohawk that left two dead and more than 20 injured. Our thoughts go out to everyone affected.]

My sense of time is all messed up. Added to that, I have only visited Austin during SXSW, so most of my mornings are spent wandering around aimlessly so that I can get my bearings when it comes time to catch a band.

I wanted to see Against Me! at 5 p.m., but that didn't pan out. I was directed to about three different entrances before I found the right one. I could hear Laura Jane Grace and company rocking the Hype Hotel from outside, but I had no patience. I stood near the doorway to re-confirm my belief that the band was as tight as ever and hit the pavement.

Getting to the stage for The Hold Steady's set was a good move—there was free beer being handed out and a free carnival-games setup. I won a koozie for throwing a dart and popping a balloon, so that was okay. There was also a fun slide, but pounding tacos earlier in the day made my stomach a little precarious.

When The Hold Steady came on at 6:40, the place finally started to pick up. The band ripped through "I Hope This Thing Didn't Frighten You" from its forthcoming album, Teeth Dreams, and Craig Finn was as joyful as ever right out of the gate. The 40-minute set was full of sing-along rock songs, which is what the band does well. I love this group unconditionally, but I still think it would be much tighter with a keyboard, and I was and still am sad that Franz Nicolay left. The adding on of Steve Selvidge is a good move, though, and the band's fuller sound can be credited mostly to his playing.

There are two Palm Doors in Austin. I found that out the hard way when I first went to the wrong one attempting to catch Fletcher C. Johnson. I grew up in West Virginia with Fletcher's lead guitar player, Adam Meisterhans, so I make it a point to catch him and the 50 bands he seems to play with during SXSW. Toward the end of their set, the band nailed a cover of "Spirit in the Sky" that had several heads turning.

After that, I headed to Gypsy Lounge, where I heard a rumor that Jack White would be arriving. He didn't (as far as I know), but I did catch the Shredfest, put on by She Shreds. Great stuff overall. I especially was into Guantanamo Baywatch, a killer three-piece that served up bouncy bass lines and tangly guitars. By this point, my legs were cashed and I went to where I was staying to rest.

I woke up this morning to 11 missed calls from my brother. As you've likely heard by now, two people were killed and several more were injured when a drunk driver crashed through a barricade and struck several pedestrians and a couple on a moped near the Mohawk on 9th St. and Red River. I had never been more thankful for making it an early night at SXSW, but my thoughts go out to all of those affected. What a tragedy.