I just got a show announcement about Bremerton's MxPx making a trip south to play Club Impact @ Brick City on Dec. 1. They'll be playing tunes from this year's "Secret Weapon" album, which marks their return to Tooth & Nail records. Look for more details here.

And that's as good a reason as any to revisit that point counterpoint on the merits of Bremerton that I had them do with Sir Mix-A-Lot a while back. Heee-larious!!

I’ve played the Hold Steady pretty obsessively since last spring. And having seen them perched at No. 9 on Rolling Stone’s “best live bands now” list recently, I had pretty lofty expectations for Sunday night’s show at the University of Washington’s HUB Ballroom. And what I was treated to was one of the year's most fun performances.

From the opening notes of “Party Pit” – a track from year’s excellent “Boys & Girls in America” – to the closing notes of “Killer Parties,” the Hold Steady was a rush. Singer Craig Finn is as kinetic and engaging as his rambly lyrical style suggests. And highlights included fist pumping deliveries of “Your Little Hoodrat Friend,” “Massive Nights,” "Chips Ahoy" and “South Town Girls,” and subdued encore opener "Citrus," to name a few that went over especially well.

THS even unveiled a couple of new songs – one called “Magazines” and another even better one that Finn didn't identify. A quick call to guitarist Tad Kubler this afternoon revealed that it's "Joke About Jamaica," which is mostly uptempo, a la “Hoodrat,” with slower, arena rock style passages that break up the flow and lyrics covering familiar Hold Steady territory. (Sample line: “Everyone was 21, we could all still get high.”) Based on those two tracks, album No. 4 should be slammin' whenever those guys can get off the road to record it.

An encore version of “Hornets! Hornets!” morphed into a feel good jam that hinted at Prince’s “Purple Rain” (perhaps an intentional nod to the greatest rocker to hail from the Hold Steady’s beloved Minneapolis.) And Finn sported a big, endearing gring as he addressed the crowd.

“The thing I’m gonna say, I have to admit, I say pretty much every night,” he said. “It’s only ‘cause it’s true. There is so much joy in what we do here.”

The band's enthusiasm was palpable, one of many things to love about the Hold Steady. This is an indie rock band that's seemingly unconcerned with its image or appealing to hipsters. They just cut loose, have a great time and the vibes on stage are infectious.

I'd expect them to headline a larger venue, i.e. the Moore, next album cycle, which is great since navigating U-Dub in search of parking as you're running late for the show is enough to trigger a gamma-fueled rampage. Raaargh! Hulk smash!!

Anyway, here are a few shots.