Friday night was a concert I've been looking forward to for months-- Drive-By Truckers and The Hold Steady. It was a concert I was SO excited about, I thought it couldn't possibly live up to expectations. But it did. I'm getting old, so when I go out on a Friday night, I have to go straight out. If I'm still on my couch by 7:30, I'm staying there all night. So Fri night, Matt picked me and Tim up at 5:45 and we headed over to Fat Cat. Jew Dan, Zach and his lady friend Kelly met us there. I downed a few Jack and diets and was ready for the show. The show was sold out so when we got there it was already fairly packed. But my NY upbringing has taught me to bob and weave. So I landed a pretty good spot. But Matt was the only one who made it up there with me. Tim got up there for The Hold Steady. And I'm glad I did-- the show was awesome, awesome, awesome. Loud guitars. Lots of energy. I was jumping up and down. And deaf by the end of the night.Matt ready for the Truckers
And here they are!
Matt & Tim and Tim's middle finger btwn bands
And again with the middle finger
The Hold Steady!
Rock and Roll Means Well 
Truckers, The Hold Steady in neoclassic rock love fest
By Joshua Klein Special to the Tribune
November 17, 2008
The Drive-By Truckers and The Hold Steady rank as two of the hardest-working bands on the planet, and their latest albums—"Brighter Than Creation's Dark" and "Stay Positive" respectively—are two of the year's best releases. Arguably, that's been true of every one of each band's records over the last decade. The difference is that in 2008 both bands decided to celebrate their collective track record (and mutual appreciation) by hitting the road together—a move that brought them to a sold-out Riviera Friday night.For all the two groups have in common, the Truckers and The Hold Steady embrace pretty different subject matter—the former specializes in tales of death, taxes and downtrodden Southern ne'er-do-wells, the latter hopeful hedonists stuck in the suburban Midwest. But Friday, the Drive-By Truckers and Hold Steady united in their conviction that heartfelt lyrics, big riffs and bigger smiles can bridge any real or perceived differences in background or belief.This night the Truckers went first—the bands have swapped the opening slot— with a reliably inspiring set of songs that included "The Righteous Path," "The Living Bubba" and "A Ghost to Most." Given the subsequent fervent reaction to The Hold Steady, the demographics on this night likely favored them slightly over their tour mates. By the end of the set, the whole audience was shouting along, fists pumping and hands clapping, as Hold Steady singer/cheerleader Craig Finn introduced one anthem after the other, from standards such as "Chips Ahoy!" to the newer "Constructive Summer" and "Slapped Actress." A few minutes later, both bands shared the stage as well as their love of classic rock. DBT singer Patterson Hood led the supergroup through Blue Oyster Cult's "Burnin' for You," Finn led AC/DC's "Ride On," and everyone came together for the dual catharsis of the Truckers' "Let There Be Rock" and The Hold Steady's "Killer Parties." By the end of the night, six guitars blared onstage, producing more grins than you could count, and requiring no further proof of the healing power of rock 'n' roll.
Burnin' for You
Tim practicing the Shaman's dance
Dinosaurs are cool
Tim pretending to read
Tim touching the big bone
Irish deer. I asked why it was Irish. Because it was found in Ireland. I'm an idiot.
Alex wanted me to take this pic. It's a Giant Beaver.
Sue went unaccosted that night.
What to do post-museum? Boots of beer at the Brauhaus. Class, class, class.
Mindy's first boot. Welcome...
Now Timmy's turn
Sausage, potatoes, mustard, pickle. Hell yeah.
One of the highlights of the night-- learning a new trick for getting rid of hiccups. The waitress told Alex to suck on 3 maraschino cherries. And it worked!
Mindy and Alex. So sweet.
And Tim & me. More insane than sweet.
Rock and Roll Means Well 
Truckers, The Hold Steady in neoclassic rock love festBy Joshua Klein Special to the Tribune
November 17, 2008
The Drive-By Truckers and The Hold Steady rank as two of the hardest-working bands on the planet, and their latest albums—"Brighter Than Creation's Dark" and "Stay Positive" respectively—are two of the year's best releases. Arguably, that's been true of every one of each band's records over the last decade. The difference is that in 2008 both bands decided to celebrate their collective track record (and mutual appreciation) by hitting the road together—a move that brought them to a sold-out Riviera Friday night.For all the two groups have in common, the Truckers and The Hold Steady embrace pretty different subject matter—the former specializes in tales of death, taxes and downtrodden Southern ne'er-do-wells, the latter hopeful hedonists stuck in the suburban Midwest. But Friday, the Drive-By Truckers and Hold Steady united in their conviction that heartfelt lyrics, big riffs and bigger smiles can bridge any real or perceived differences in background or belief.This night the Truckers went first—the bands have swapped the opening slot— with a reliably inspiring set of songs that included "The Righteous Path," "The Living Bubba" and "A Ghost to Most." Given the subsequent fervent reaction to The Hold Steady, the demographics on this night likely favored them slightly over their tour mates. By the end of the set, the whole audience was shouting along, fists pumping and hands clapping, as Hold Steady singer/cheerleader Craig Finn introduced one anthem after the other, from standards such as "Chips Ahoy!" to the newer "Constructive Summer" and "Slapped Actress." A few minutes later, both bands shared the stage as well as their love of classic rock. DBT singer Patterson Hood led the supergroup through Blue Oyster Cult's "Burnin' for You," Finn led AC/DC's "Ride On," and everyone came together for the dual catharsis of the Truckers' "Let There Be Rock" and The Hold Steady's "Killer Parties." By the end of the night, six guitars blared onstage, producing more grins than you could count, and requiring no further proof of the healing power of rock 'n' roll.
Your Little Hoodrat Friend
Burnin' for You
Saturday was Boeing night at the Field Museum. We went as Alex's guests. It was mainly parents with kids. But Tim and I usually act like children, so it worked out well. It was so fun. I kept saying I was going to bring a flask and we could throw things at Sue the way the charming Kellogg students did. But I realized too late that I had lost my flask top, so that was out. And yet we still had fun. Granted, we went straight out to a bar afterwards...
Tim practicing the Shaman's dance
Dinosaurs are cool
Tim pretending to read
Tim touching the big bone
Irish deer. I asked why it was Irish. Because it was found in Ireland. I'm an idiot.
Alex wanted me to take this pic. It's a Giant Beaver.
Sue went unaccosted that night.
What to do post-museum? Boots of beer at the Brauhaus. Class, class, class.
Mindy's first boot. Welcome...
Now Timmy's turn
Sausage, potatoes, mustard, pickle. Hell yeah.
One of the highlights of the night-- learning a new trick for getting rid of hiccups. The waitress told Alex to suck on 3 maraschino cherries. And it worked!
Mindy and Alex. So sweet.
And Tim & me. More insane than sweet.
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