In a perfect world, The Hold Steady would occupy the spot Kings of Leon hold in the popular conscious. The New York via Minneapolis band combine giant classic guitar hooks and vocalist/guitarist Craig Finn’s vivid accounts of epic nights out and the variety of inhabitants of the underground scene in a way that is both memorable and effortless.

Many music publications have hailed the band as one of the best live acts in the world, and their orange stage set handily proved them right. Despite losing keyboardist and key member Franz Nicolay earlier this year, the band still managed to churn out many of their best songs without a hitch. Finn was a live wire throughout, making grand gestures with his arms while telling his tales and urging the audience to get involved.

Meanwhile, he and the band kept things loud and energetic, with songs like “Stuck Between Stations,” “Hurricane J” and “Sequestered In Memphis” providing enough epic riffs to fill spaces twice the size of Waterloo Park.