One of my favorite jams from the new record from The Hold Steady also happens to be the title track. Above, check out the band on a NYC rooftop performing “Stay Positive” courtesy of Pitchfork.tv.

Related: Review: The Hold Steady – Majestic Theatre, Madison
Related: Review: The Holdy Steady :: Stay Positive

Myspace: The Hold Steady

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Set List: Constructive Summer/You Gotta/Multitude of Casualties/Sequestered In Memphis/Yeah Sapphire/Massive Nights/Party Pit/Joke About Jamaica/Navy Sheets/Banging Camp/Modesto/Chips Ahoy!/You Can Make Him Like You/Barfruit Blues/Lord, I’m Discouraged/Hornets! Hornets!/Stay Positive/Slapped Actress

Encore: Stuck Between Stations/The Swish/Southtown Girls/Killer Parties

Let’s all recover together. Last night The Hold Steady earned their accolades of being one of the best live bands on the road these days. The Majestic Theatre was filled up with fans eager to hear Stay Positive material for the first time, and fill their live music prescription for the summer. After seeing a show like this it’s only expected that the next band you see will seem a little underwhelming.

The Stay Positive material seamlessly wove its way into the set list, beginning the evening with the opening track of the album, “Constructive Summer.” From that moment those in the floor were fist pumping for the next hour and half as Craig Finn and crew delivered their sing-a-long songs. There was jumping, shouting, and lots of sweating – rock and roll at its rawest. “Sequestered In Memphis” and “Stay Positive” are set list staples for the band going forward, the latter being one of the biggest anthems of the evening.

In the Hold Steady’s songs I’m reminded of my youth and cognizant my growing age. I’m no longer that kid in the very first row, shirt ripped, ribs sore, and on the verge of collapse from exhaustion. That’s ok, because I watched in awe as a group of four guys perform what could have been the soundtrack to my youth.

Discuss: What did you think of the show? What were your favorite songs? What didn’t they play that you were hoping to hear? That was a pretty sweet Grateful Dead Dancing Bear sticker adorning Craig’s telecaster!

Related: Review: The Holdy Steady :: Stay Positive
Myspace: The Hold Steady

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The Hold Steady play the Majestic Theatre in Madison on Monday, July 21st. A limited number of tickets remain, make sure you find yourself in that party pit.

Related: Review: The Holdy Steady :: Stay Positive

Myspace: The Hold Steady

Find MP3′s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic

In my senior year of high school my friends and I would often climb a water tower just down the street from our homes. I was always the last one to go up and the first one to come down, saying I had a fear of heights is an understatement. Underneath my terrified state I was creating some of the most memorable conversations, adventures, and friendships that remain in tact to this day. On the opening track “Constructive Summer” off The Hold Steady’s new record Stay Positive, Craig Finn talks all about “leaning ladders up against water towers” in a song that completely embodies the feeling of summer for me – then and now.

I’ll come right out and say this isn’t The Hold Steady’s best work, not even close. It’s got its share of peaks and valley’s that have more to do with track sequencing than bad songs. The first two tracks including the aforementioned album opener paired with “Sequestered in Memphis,” are my absolute favorites on the record and it doesn’t hurt that Lucero’s Ben Nichols lends vox to the latter. In fact, The Hold Steady don’t hesitate trotting out their all star friends, J Mascis and Patterson Hood both lend their talents. Other favorites include the delicate “Lord, I’m Discouraged,” a previous show closer, and the title track “Stay Positive” which holds all the anthemic qualities that make the Hold Steady so triumphant.

Just its predecessors, Stay Positive will succeed or fail on how the material translates live. Initial reports I’ve read sound like the songs are weaving themselves into the set lists with great ease. That’s good because much as I love this band on record, they’ll always remain a live band for me. One where I can bring a whole slew of friends and just get silly and lost in rock and roll. Stay Positive is essential listening this summer. Make sure you get one of the initial copies that includes the universal favorite “Ask Her For Some Adderal” plus two other tracks as one long single track.

The Hold Steady play the Majestic Theatre in Madison on Monday, July 21st. A limited number of tickets remain, make sure you find yourself in that party pit.

Discuss: Thoughts on the record? Favorite tracks? Did you get the bonus tracks? Seeing them in Madison?

Myspace: The Hold Steady

Find MP3′s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic