blogs

Drunk Concert Review
Hold (Your Beer) Steady
The Hold Steady at The Mohawk on 4/10/12



At $18, this show was very near my nominal cap for live music (which is $20). Being on a Tuesday – and an outdoor show with doors at 6:30 – I decide to take advantage of Double Dave’s Pizza 2-for-1 pepperoni rolls and happy hour beer specials. For $10.50 I got four rolls, two Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ales, and two Lone Stars. Afterwards, I hopped on the 7 bus to head most of the way to the Mohawk.

First, I tried to work my angles to get in for free. I did some street team work earlier in the year for the promoter (Transmission Entertainment) and had yet to redeem that for a free show. I ask the door guy if my former street team manager was there. No luck. My roommate, a writer for the Austinist, was covering the show but was not there yet. Sometimes he gets a +1, so I ask the door guy if he did. “Oh, I know Ryan. No, he doesn’t have a plus one.” Alright, I have to pay. This leaves me with $2, which I throw down on a Michelob Ultra right when I get there.

First things first – oh my god they added two more levels of balcony! This was an excellent addition on their part, as the balcony is the best part about the Mohawk. I check out the new and improved outdoor bar, which is underneath the new balcony… but no $2 Ultras. I have to go back inside for those. I open a tab on my credit card and order two more.

Remember kids, a $10 minimum on credit cards. After double-fisting those for the opening band, it’s time to stake claim near the front. I order (3) more Ultras – hey, it’s not like an MLB game where they limit you to two drinks at a time – close my tab, and join my roommate right in front of the speakers at stage left.



The music starts, and I quickly realize I’ve left my ear plugs at home. The awesomeness that is the Hold Steady would ring out my ears for a week. I wander all over down below and the balconies and discover the best place is the lowest balcony; that’s the Goldilocks’s position tonight – not to loud, not to soft – just right. I settle in and enjoy the show. It was good.