MN MP3 Monday VII: The Hold Steady-Party Pit

This tune by mostly Midwestern The Hold Steady has some of the best references to the Twin Cities in the history of Minnesota music: “I saw her walking through the Crystal Court,” and “So I walked across that Grain Belt Bridge/Into that brand new Minneapolis.”  The cheering chorus at the end urgently begs for open liquor laws in the metro area: “Gonna walk around and drink some more.”  Enjoy the video, live at Lollapalooza, 2007.

MP3: The Hold Steady-Party Pit [ysi]

MP

NY Times reports increase in number of DJs

And they blame it on the economic downturn! The NYTimes can associate anything with the collapse of our financial markets, but this one may top them all.  They provide some anecdotal evidence, but seem to ignore the fact that access to music and equipment has made the biz easier for just about anyone who likes music. Definitely worth a read. Free subscription requird.

MP3: The Hold Steady-Most People Are DJs [ysi]

MP3: The Ting Tings-Great DJ

MP3: Patrice Holloway-Those DJ Shows [ysi]

MP

Hold Steady on Letterman

The Hold Steady have been filming a five minute segment for the Late Show with David Letterman which will air tonight (in mere minutes!). According to Pitchfork, it’s going to be just before the top ten list. Video will be posted as it becomes available. For now, enjoy the mp3 of one of the best tracks from their new album, Stay Positive (out now!), below.

MP3: Lord I’m Discouraged (Live @ Toad’s)

MP

The Hold Steady on The Interface

Spinner’s got Minneapolis/Brooklyn’s The Hold Steady spinning on The Interface. Check it out, or download the mp3 below.

MP3: The Hold Steady on The Interface

Set List:

• Constructive Summer
• Sequestered in Memphis
• Navy Sheets
• Stay Positive
• Joke About Jamaica
• Interview

The Hold Steady album details

On the 14th of July, expect to have a Massive Night.  For on that fateful day The Hold Steady will release their 11-track 4th album, Stay Positive. Track listing and mp3s after the jump:

M@M: Golden Smog & The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn-I Wanna Be Your Dog

Covering the great Iggy Pop and the Stooge’s brilliant hit, ranked by Pitchfork as one of the top 20 greatest songs of the 1960s, a poor-quality, yet entertaining video of Gold Smog and Craig Finn (original song in mp3 format below):

Buy Iggy Pop and the Stooges/MP3: I Wanna Be Your Dog

MP

The Hold Steady, Radio On knock historic Northrop Auditorium on its ass

Commendations to the two bands who apparently killed (almost in the case of THS) tonight in Minneapolis at Northrop Auditorium on the University of Minnesota campus. Despite rumors of a post-concert jam at the nearby (and equally historic) 400 Bar, no such events took place. Expect a review of the show if someone can get on their horse.

And in some news I missed last week, The Hold Steady (along with one of my new favorites, The Virgins) will be playing at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, early May.

MP

Sports Night

A more diverse playlist has emerged since my last, but this amalgamates some truly unique artists.  (Sorry to those of you looking for the classic, yet short-lived TV show, Sports Night.) Remember: top 5 and more mp3s after the jump.

10. Cheech and Chong-Basketball Jones. “Bassa-ball jones, I got a bassa-ball jones, oh baby ooo-ee-ooooo” and “That basketball was like a basketball to me.”  Something tells me these guys weren’t really singing about a ball, per se.

9. Gear Daddies-Zamboni Song. Senator Amy Klobuchar’s unofficial campaign theme song for her victorious 2006 campaign.  She used the song claiming these were the biggest celebrities she knew.  Pure class.  “Yeah, I wanna drive the zamboni.  I wanna drive the zamboni.  Yes I do.”

8. Jack Johnson-Mudfootball.  “Over to the field for tackle football.”  While the song fits the playlist, the best part of this song is the Culture Club toss-out at the 1:20 mark.

7. Camper van Beethoven-Take the Skinheads Bowling. Title as lyrics. Used to perfection in Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine; for me the two are now inseparable.

6. The Decemberists-The Gymnast, High Above the Ground. Title as opening lyrics. From Her Majesty LP.

“So I walked across that Grain Belt Bridge…”

Jeff, an obviously avid Google user, has done something that I have wanted at my disposal for sometime.  He has musically cartographed (sp?) lyrics from The Hold Steady onto a Google map.  Check it out; it’s really, really cool.

In other THS news, their new album will be released soon, hopefully.  Check out PF’s story.

And finally, The Hold Steady will be performing at the University of Minnesota’s Northrop Auditorium for the annual Lend a Hand, Hear the Band concert, which asks students to contribute ten hours of community service in exchange for a free ticket to a concert.  Perennial favorite Radio On will be opening.  Check out a recording of Take Me Out To the Ballgame THS recorded for the Minnesota Twins last year.

Buy The Hold Steady-Take Me Out To the Ballgame 

MP

To be seventeen forever…

The Hold Steady have had some news alerts pop up recently:

First, from Pitchfork, The HS has released what will likely be the title of their fourth LP: Stay Positive.  Sounds like my mom was hanging out with Craig in the studio.  Hopefully we can hope for lyrics a little more interesting than the similar-sounding ones she made me sing when I got into fights with my sister growing up (from The Youngbloods Let’s Get Together): “Come on people now, smile on each other, everybody get together, try to love one another right now.”

Second, it was just announced that The Hold Steady will be headlining the University of Minnesota’s Lend a Hand, Hear the Band Concert. There should be a couple of openers, including (hopefully) the great unsung heroes of Minnesota music, Radio On.

MP3: (Stay) Positive Jam