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NME Festival Guide
2009

The Hold Steady keep V Festival rocking

Minneapolis band 'Stay Positive' in Chelmsford

The Hold Steady kept the V Festival rocking in Chelmsford this afternoon (August 16), playing on the 4Music Stage.

The band played a set including songs from their recent album 'Stay Positive' in the beaming sun, as revellers enjoyed an afternoon of sunny weather despite fears of rain forming earlier in the week.

Keyboardest Franz Nicolay was in typically jumpy form for the set, leaping about as the band played opener 'Constructive Summer'.

He played the accordian during 'Lord, I'm Discouraged' later in the show, while guitarist Tad Kubler earned an ovation from the crowd for his solo on a double-necked guitar.

Nicolay then swigged red wine from the bottle as his band began playing recent LP title track 'Stay Positive', repeatedly slapping his head and knee and making peace signs as he played.

The Minneapolis band ended their set with 'Slapped Actress', ending the song by singing the chorus a capella.

"We're The Hold Steady, stay positive," declared frontman Craig Finn before the band headed offstage.

The Hold Steady played:

'Constructive Summer'
'Chips Ahoy'
'Your Little Hoodrat Friend'
'Sequestered In Memphis'
'Lord, I'm Discouraged'
'Stay Positive'
'Slapped Actress'


Keep checking NME.COM for the latest news, pictures, videos and blogs live from both V Festival Chelmsford and V Festival Staffordshire all weekend.

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Comments (1)

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Stardumb 

Aug 19, 2008

This band is the WORST!!! They talk more shit then Oasis and are hardly famous. They said radiohead has lost the plot and that the strokes have shitty lyrics but these dudes write recycled songs abot their cousins and smoking pot. Their not on the same level as any band they speak about and I can't believe they let them play V festival!

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Pic: Andy Willsher

Pic: Andy Willsher

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