april moore skelton

Athens Banner-Herald, August 7, 2008 edition

Followers of The Hold Steady sometimes refer to the New York group’s fan base as “the Unified Scene.” While the phrase has made two appearances in frontman Craig Finn’s lyrics, in this sense, it refers to a certain unity that live music often underscores, and which The Hold Steady shows are famous for delivering: a sense of belonging. It’s far from “Kumbaya,” but it comes from a similar feeling - that of being part of something larger.

While their audience finds fellowship in The Hold Steady’s brand of bar rock, the characters in Finn’s songs are often lost souls, dealing with boredom and ennui through self-destructive behavior. …