The Hold Steady Usher in Thanksgiving

It was the night before Thanksgiving, but judging from the smile boasted by the Hold Steady's Craig Finn, it might as well have been Christmas morning. Despite, or perhaps thanks to, the bottle of Jameson that he and his bandmates were sharing onstage, they all seemed to have a blast as they ran through crowd favorites like "Cattle and Creeping Things" and tracks off their new album, Boys and Girls in America. "Southtown Girls" and "You Can Make Him Like You" found the already excited crowd pumping fists into the air and even stage diving. As for the band, Finn delivered his trademark storytelling singing while keyboardist Franz Nicolay broke out his accordion and Tad Kubler played guitar behind his head, giving thanks to the sold-out audience with, "This is the time of our lives." ADAM RATHE / PHOTOS BY ERIC NOWELS

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We asked: What is it about the Hold Steady that you're thankful for? COMMENT

Name: Scottie Blozie
Age: 22
Hometown: Northeast, CT
Occupation: Tutor and writer
"I am thankful for the fact that they're making music with balls."

Name: Laura Mazzarella
Age: 20
Hometown: Weathersville, CT
Occupation: Student
"I'm thankful to have been introduced to the band -- it's the first time I get to see them."

Name: Matt Bergman
Age: 23
Hometown: Ft. Lee, NJ
Occupation: Photographer
"I am thankful just to be here."

Name: Norma Toraya
Age: 28
Hometown: Jersey City, NJ
Occupation: Animator
"That I get to see my friends on a holiday."

Name: Prav Maddela
Age: 24
Hometown: Hoboken, NJ
Occupation: In software
"I'm thankful I got a ticket -- I had to buy a scapled one outside."

Name: Alice Freda
Age: 27
Hometown: New York, NY
Occupation: Composer's assistant
"I'm thankful that my friends haven't left for Thanksgiving and I get to come here with them."

Name: Jacob Wunsch
Age: 27
Hometown: New York, NY
Occupation: Paralegal
"I'm thankful that a small, thoughtful band like this can be selling out such a large venue."

Name: Jeff Kilgour
Age: 32
Hometown: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Occupation: Music publicist and manager
"I'm thankful to see good music and put more alcohol in me before I deal with my family

Name: Jon Keyes
Age: 22
Hometown: Patchaogue, NY
Occupation: Brooklyn Academy of Music staffer
"I'm thankful that I'm gonna see the Hold Steady and we're all gonna have a good time."

Name: Laura
Age: 19
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Occupation: Student
"I'm thankful that they played on one of the biggest nights of the year."