The Hold Steady offers A Positive Rage
While you couldn’t tell it from last year’s release of Stay Positive and the subsequent touring that followed, The Hold Steady apparently have built up quite a bit of rage. But before you scramble to Home Depot, pick up plywood, and board your windows to prevent a attack from a “mutantfied” Craig Finn, bear in mind that this particular rage is more on the positive side of things, the type that captures “the excitement and high spirits of both the band and their fans.”
Yes ladies and gentlemen, A Positive Rage is indeed the name of The Hold Steady’s first-ever live album. A bit ironically however, the 17 track effort, which is scheduled for release on April 7th via Vagrant Records, 
comes not from the band’s most recent workings, as one would assume from the title, but instead the days surrounding the release of their third full-length, Boys and Girls in America, and ensuing world tour in 2006.
The release will include two discs, the first being an enhanced recording taken from the band’s October 31, 2007 performance in Chicago, while the second will feature a 53-minute documentary capturing Finn and Co.’s first ever engagements in London. And it if that’s not enough to tickle your fancy, A Positive Rage will also include five bonus studio tracks, two of which, “Spectres” and “40 Bucks” are previously unreleased.
The album will coincide with a previously announced spring tour, which will give fans an opportunity to compare the live album to the real McCoy. Included in dates will be a North American stint, highlighted by an appearance at the Coachella Music Festival and an engagement with Rachel Ray, and a trip to Europe where they will play in support of Counting Crows.
A Positive Rage Tracklist:
01. Intro
02. Stuck Between Stations
03. The Swish
04. Chips Ahoy!
05. Massive Nights
06. Ask Her For Adderall
07. Barfruit Blues
08. Same Kooks
09. You Gotta Dance (With Who You Came With)
10. Lord, I’m Discouraged
11. You Can Make Him Like You
12. Your Little Hoodrat Friend
13. Southtown Girls
14. Citrus
15. First Night
16. Girls Like Status
17. Killer Parities
The Hold Steady 2009 Tour Dates:
02/04 - Sydney, AU @ The Metro Theatre
02/06 - Perth, AU @ Laneway Festival
02/07 - Adelaide, AU @ Laneway Festival
02/08 - Sydney, AU @ Laneway Festival
03/31 - Albany, NY @ Valentine’s *
04/01 - Buffalo, NY @ The Tralf Music Hall *
04/02 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Calvin College Fine Arts Center *
04/03 - Urbana, IL @ Illini Courtyard Cafe *
04/04 - Bloomington, IN @ Jake’s Nightclub *
04/06 - St. Louis, MO @ The Gargoyle *
04/07 - Iowa City, IA @ Picador *
04/08 - Omaha, NE @ Slowdown *
04/10 - Boulder, CO @ Fox Theater *
04/11 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge *
04/13 - Reno, NV @ The Underground *
04/14 - Stateline, NV @ Harrah’s Tahoe South Shore Room *
04/15 - Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s Night Club *
04/17 - Indio, CA @ Coachella Music Festival
05/10 - Glasgow, UK @ SECC ^
05/11 - Manchester, UK @ Manchester Evening News Arena ^
05/13 - Birmingham, UK @ NIA ^
05/14 - London, UK @ Wembley Arena ^
05/16 - Cardiff, UK @ Cardiff Arena ^
05/18 - Bournemouth, UK @ BIC ^
05/19 - Nottingham, UK @ Royal Centre ^
05/21 - Brixton, UK @ Academy ^
05/30 - Hunter Mountain, NY @ Mountain Jam
* = w/ The War on Drugs
^ = w/ Counting Crows
So exciting, they are such a great live band. Their studio album just doesn’t do them justice. Craig Finn has an unparalleled presence at his shows. I hope it translates onto the live album. I’m going to see them on March 29th near Baltimore, but I think it’s going to be small more intimate experience. The show is not publicized but I think people can get tickets at jdstudiono7.com or just show up…?