One of the best shows I've been to this year, and what a way to open up what has turned out to be a month full of live music! The Hold Steady played at the Vic on October 1 (I'm three weeks late in writing about it) and what a great show they put on! But what makes a concert so memorable? I think the answer boils down to several criteria, and they all have to align to create a great and memorable live experience.
A. The band has to be into it! The Hold Steady are known for their relentless touring and they have quite clearly grown comfortable with playing to a live audience night after night for months on end. However, their show was anything but routine for concert-goers; their stage presence was great and they looked like they were really having fun up on stage. The above picture was not taken by me, but, I assure you, Craig Finn really does move, wave, and gesture like that the entire time.
B. The right tunes need to be played. Sometimes artists play new material or their personal faves in lieu of what they know fans crave to hear. The Hold Steady did a great job of incorporating songs from a smattering of their collection. They also played the stuff that gets the crowd moving. "Chips Ahoy!"was a personal fave, and the 4-song encore and mini jam was a nice way to close out the show.
C. The right friends. It's always fun to go to shows with a group of friends, but sometimes it can be difficult to keep everyone together--some people want to be close to the stage, others want to hang back, others make frequent drink/bathroom trips. I went with Murph; we stayed in a spot with a good view, and we were quite content to just chill and listen (I think I may have gone to the bathroom once though). An unexpected bonus was the predominance of male attendees...we were two chicks in a sea of boys, yay!
D. Miscellaneous. Factors like the temperature of the venue, the behavior of the crowd, and the ambiance of the hall/arena/room all contribute to overall satisfaction or disappointment. Also, psychological well-being is important; when I get to a show thinking "Poo, these heels hurt," I know it's gonna be a long concert. I'd much rather go in thinking "Woohoo, Hoegaarden on tap!"
