Franz Nicolay and Craig Finn of the Hold Steady perform at the Newport on Saturday night.

It’s Saturday night at the Newport and the pit is filling up with fans anxiously awaiting to see The Hold Steady. While the first two bands played, Craig Finn (vocals) walked through the crowd and signed a few fan’s tickets before heading backstage.

Finn’s fondness for fans was an unusual but reassuring perk. Though the group opened for the Rolling Stones in front of 70,000 fans, they still consider themselves just five guys who love to drink and play old-fashioned rock.

Finally, Finn, Tad Kubler (guitar), Bobby Drake (drums), Galen Polivka (bass) and Franz Nicolay (keyboards) took the stage. Immediately, the crowd began to cheer and push forward to hear them perform.

The concert proved to be a refreshing, standard rock ‘n’ roll experience. The music was original, and instead of heavy pyrotechnics or dance combinations, the group utilized the crowd by involving them in every song.

The upbeat rock group has three CDs to choose from, with personal favorites such as “Citrus” and “Chips Ahoy!”

They bring undressed, classic-sounding rock that is Bruce Springsteen-esque.

Every member of the group felt every word and used all of their emotion and talent to transform that energy into an exceptional musical sound.

A few fans in the front of the pit put their hands in the air and shouted the lyrics back to the group throughout the concert. Every lyric spoke about experiences that both the young and old members of the audience could relate to.

“Southtown girls won’t blow you away,” Finn sang in “Southtown Girls.” “But you know that they’ll stay.”

Although the band attracts more of an older crowd because they are in their 30s, the fans ranged from age 17 to 50 and united by singing the words to every song and dancing to the beat.

The Hold Steady continued to encourage the audience to drink more beer, relax and have a good time. After the 90-minute performance, the band accomplished its goal. Stress was no longer an issue for the crowd – their worries had disappeared.

Kelly Oliver-Hornyak can be reached at [email protected].