The Hold Steady in concert. Photo licensed under Creative Commons courtesy of user hoodrat.

Today, we go back to New York City for the Best Band You’ve Never Heard Of. I don’t really know what’s in the water there, but some of the best music outside of the mainstream seems to be manufactured there like an assembly line. The Hold Steady, however, are anything but assembly line, with their Midwestern roots shining through their bold Brooklyn sound. Most of The Hold Steady hails from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, with artists like Husker Du and Bruce Springsteen claimed as major influences. This hardrocking quintet seamlessly meshes loud riffs, perhaps reminiscent of AC/DC, with the storytelling of Craig Finn, their lead singer, who sounds eerily like The Boss.

They’ve grown up quite a bit as well; their earlier album spawned a piece about them entitled “America’s Bar Band” by David Dye of NPR Music, but their newest album has some serious musical chops as well. Off of that album, check out “Sequestered in Memphis,” which introduces some organ in a more prominent way than ever before. To get a taste of the earlier stuff, you have to hear “Stuck Between Stations,” off of “Boys and Girls in America.” You can also check them out on their MySpace page.

Folks, these guys bring nothing but completely insane and yet utterly controlled energy to the table. It is as if Bruce decided, you know what, screw it; I’m going to start a new band that rocks way harder than everything I’ve ever done. Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to introduce The Hold Steady.

This is Goose, signing off.

Sequestered In Memphis

Stuck Between Stations