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Sometimes it's easy. You take the right band, put them in the right city and, just like that, you have the makings of an unforgettable show. It's what happens when U2 decide to play at a sprawling ampitheater in the middle of Ireland or Bruce Springsteen decides to turn up for a surprise performance at one of his old haunts in Asbury park. When you get the setting right, the rest will follow.
Now, we realize that The Hold Steady aren't technically from Montana, but when they pulled into Billings to play this very special Secret Show at the Railyard, it definitely felt like they were among their people. That's because they were. After all, this Brooklyn-based indie rock group have always fancied themselves as a bit of a bar band.
And, make no mistake about it, Billings is the kind of town that really appreciates a good bar band.
Perhaps that explains the wide variety of people -- from leather-clad bikers to rail thin music geeks -- that camped out in front of the Railyard in order to gain entry into this special event. Once the majority of them arrived inside, they quickly got their fists pumping as openers The Loved Ones took the stage and played song after song from their excellent new album, Build & Burn -- including their latest single, "The Bridge."
By the time that the Philly-bred group finished, they had been joined onstage by The Hold Steady's Tad Kubler and Franz Nicolay. While the two of them took a short breather after completing the set with the Loved Ones, just a few moments later, they were back up there strumming the opening chords of "Constructive Summer." That particular song opens the Hold Steady's must-have new album, Stay Positive, and it was one of the many new songs they played this evening.
Over the course of the night, they churned out winning versions of "Sequestered In Memphis", "One For The Cutterss" as well as "Yeah Sapphire," which one teenage girl in the audience used as an excuse to do the sole stage dive of the evening. That may have been an odd site, sure. But trust us, it was no stranger than seeing two grown men slowdance with each other during one of the band's latest ballad.
While that last song may have slowed the night's pace temporarily, Craig Finn and company fired back, closing the night with "Most People Are DJs," the best anti-hipster song... well, ever.
This was such a brilliant show that we have to give thanks to those who made it possible. So then, big ups to both bands, their crews, the guys at Vagrant, Juan and Drew at Raven House, Vanessa at Fat, Sean at Eleven 11, and all the folks in Billings who came out and showed us how it's done.
You guys rule. We'll see you at the next show...
Now, we realize that The Hold Steady aren't technically from Montana, but when they pulled into Billings to play this very special Secret Show at the Railyard, it definitely felt like they were among their people. That's because they were. After all, this Brooklyn-based indie rock group have always fancied themselves as a bit of a bar band.
And, make no mistake about it, Billings is the kind of town that really appreciates a good bar band.
Perhaps that explains the wide variety of people -- from leather-clad bikers to rail thin music geeks -- that camped out in front of the Railyard in order to gain entry into this special event. Once the majority of them arrived inside, they quickly got their fists pumping as openers The Loved Ones took the stage and played song after song from their excellent new album, Build & Burn -- including their latest single, "The Bridge."
By the time that the Philly-bred group finished, they had been joined onstage by The Hold Steady's Tad Kubler and Franz Nicolay. While the two of them took a short breather after completing the set with the Loved Ones, just a few moments later, they were back up there strumming the opening chords of "Constructive Summer." That particular song opens the Hold Steady's must-have new album, Stay Positive, and it was one of the many new songs they played this evening.
Over the course of the night, they churned out winning versions of "Sequestered In Memphis", "One For The Cutterss" as well as "Yeah Sapphire," which one teenage girl in the audience used as an excuse to do the sole stage dive of the evening. That may have been an odd site, sure. But trust us, it was no stranger than seeing two grown men slowdance with each other during one of the band's latest ballad.
While that last song may have slowed the night's pace temporarily, Craig Finn and company fired back, closing the night with "Most People Are DJs," the best anti-hipster song... well, ever.
This was such a brilliant show that we have to give thanks to those who made it possible. So then, big ups to both bands, their crews, the guys at Vagrant, Juan and Drew at Raven House, Vanessa at Fat, Sean at Eleven 11, and all the folks in Billings who came out and showed us how it's done.
You guys rule. We'll see you at the next show...
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