The little-barroom-band-that-could, did, this week in Los Angeles. On the eve of the release of their fifth album in six years, Brooklyn-based The Hold Steady occupied L.A. Live's rin gong of acoustic perfection, taking to the confines of the Grammy Museum's intimate, 200-person theater for a moderated interview, audience Q&A, and rare acoustic show including songs from the new record, "Heaven is Whenever" (Rough Trade/Vagrant). more ›

Last night at the El Rey, The Hold Steady did just that -- Not playing the coy, indie-nerd wallflowers and never crossing into absolute rock and roll mayhem, Craig Finn and the boys held the line, well, steady. Looking like a more-hip Paul Giamatti and gesturing feverishly like a less-nebbishy Woody Allen, Finn led the charge with flails and jolts, hand claps for miles, and his frighteningly accurate, wholly incongruous, Springsteen voice. Mesmerizing. The... more ›