When classic American rock and the purest American punk rock meet, you get The Hold Steady – imagine a parallel world in which Bruce Springsteen and The Band jam with Hüsker Dü and you can have a close enough picture.

Singer/guitarist Craig Finn clearly explained the band’s roots: “Growing up in Minneapolis, Hüsker Dü was a huge band. I always thought Grant Hart was the better songwriter, and his lyrics were very specific. Bob Mould kind of favoured vague lyrics. But as far as detail-oriented songwriters, more contemporary… certainly Bruce Springsteen, Jim Carroll, John Darnielle from The Mountain Goats. A lot of hip-hop really inspires me. My absolute favourite stuff is Brother Ali from Rhymesayers. Atmosphere, obviously. Things like Aesop Rock, Sage Francis, Murs, all those guys. Even Jay-Z. Hip-hop is so much about lyrics, and as a lyricist it’s hard not to be inspired by it“.

So far The Hold Steady released five studio albums – Almost Killed Me (2004), Separation Sunday (2005), Boys And Girls In America (2006), Stay Positive (2008), Heaven Is Whenever (2010) – and in September started working on a new record.
They absolutely are among the greatest of our time and already acquired cult-like status, but they surely deserve to reach wider audiences. So, enjoy a couple of live in the studio cuts – below. And try to find their records.