Get Out Sunday: The Hold Steady & Art Brut

For a guy who's nearly tone deaf, Eddie Argos has done pretty well for himself in the world of rock music. When his band Art Brut broke a couple years ago, their sound--spoken-word lyrics over choppy punk rhythms and AC/DC-inspired riffs--stood out in the London indie scene, amongst Britpop redux bands like Babyshambles and Bloc Party. Their debut album, Bang, Bang, Rock & Roll was a Pitchfork and KEXP fave, and the first time we caught them in concert--back in March '06--they sold out Neumo's before the U.S. release of their album.

This Sunday, they return to Seattle for the fourth time (they most recently played Bumbershoot), with the Hold Steady at the HUB Ballroom at the UW. Art Brut's newest effort It's a Bit Complicated, a paean to immaturity, may have tended towards the notorious sophomore slump, lacking the urgency and power of Bang singles like "Modern Art" and "Bad Weekend," but it still delivers some memorable songs like "Direct Hit" and "Nag, Nag, Nag, Nag."

The evening's headliner, The Hold Steady, have impressed us less--we're definitely going for Art Brut--but that hasn't stopped them from wooing over the college crowd. Their '06 album, Boys and Girls in America, made many a top-ten list, and the band's oblique Christian spirituality places them in Sufjan Stevens territory, but with Zep-style riffs instead of acoustic guitar.

Also serving as opener is LA's The Blood Arm, who've toured with Maximo Park, Hot Hot Heat, and whom Franz Ferdinand has referred to as one of their favorite bands.

The Hold Steady w/ Art Brut // HUB Ballroom // doors @ 7 pm // tix $22 advance // all ages