The Hold Steady’s performance of |”Rock Problems” on Craig Ferguson can serve as a prime supporting argument for a number of things I hold to be true:

1.Craig Finn shouldn’t play guitar on TV. It seems like Finn-light watching him try to spazz-out and keep rhythm at the same time. I don’t think three guitars is needed in this song, anyway.

2. The band misses Franz Nicolay but will never admit it. Tad Kubler is not the backup singer that the ex-keyboardest is and having both together gave the band real depth and range in the backing department. Plus, new keyboard dude in the back couldn’t be less-in-The Hold Steady than if he wasn’t in The Hold Steady.

3. This is a mid-tier song on an album comprised of mid-tier songs. The mellow songs may not be the vibe they want to portray, but “The Sweet Part of the City” and “We Can Get Together” are the strongest songs on the record and they should give them some TV love.

Lastly, 4. Despite all of this, I love this band. Love watching them perform, love the stupid grin on Finn’s face, love the new guy’s Sideshow Bob hair, love that they still play tiny clubs when they could sell-out bigger ones, and love that at least they love this song, are proud of it and enjoy the hell out of playing it.

The Hold Steady 2010 Tour Dates
05/22 – Orlando, FL @ The Social ^
05/23 – Orlando, FL @ The Social ^
05/25 – Savannah, GA @ Live Wire Music Hall ^
05/26 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt ^
05/27 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse ^
05/29 – George, WA @ Sasquatch! Music Festival
06/12 – Isle of Wight, UK @ Isle of Wight Festival
06/14 – Paris, FR @ Fleche D’Or
06/15 – Cologne, DE @ Gebäude 9
06/16 – Berlin, DE @ Frannz Club
06/17 – Munich, DE @ 59:1
06/19 – Neuhausen ob Eck, DE @ Southside Festival
06/21 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
06/22 – London, UK @ HMV Forum
06/24 – Vitoria, ES @ Azkena Rock Festival
06/26 – Manchester, UK @ Academy 2
06/27 – Pilton, UK @ Glastonbury Music Festival
07/01 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
07/02 – Hayward, WI @ Lac Courte Oreilles Casino #
07/03 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cabooze Outdoor Stage #
07/04 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue #
07/06 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown #
07/07 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
07/08 – Santa Fe, NM @ Santa Fe Brewing Company #
07/10 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater #
07/11 – Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Cafe #
07/12 – Knoxville, TN @ The Square Room #
07/14 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall #
07/15 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore *#
07/16 – Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus #
07/17 – Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Bluesfest
08/18 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox at the Market
08/19 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
08/20 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
08/21 – Eugene, OR @ W.O.W. Hall
08/23 – Chico, CA @ Seantor Theatre
08/24 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
08/25 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar
08/26 – Pomona, CA @ Glass House
08/27 – Santa Barbra, CA @ Velvet Jones
10/05 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
10/07 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre

^ = w/ Twin Tigers
* = w/ The Gaslight Anthem
# = w/ The Whigs