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New York City based, The Hold Steady is fronted by singer/lyricist Craig Finn. Finn left Minneapolis for NYC in 2000 after the demise of art punk critical favorites Lifter Puller. Finn is old enough to have seen numerous performances by The Replacements in their Bob Stinson glory days. He longed to create music that had the same loose energy as the 'Mats, The Grifters, and The Rolling Stones, while keeping alive the literary lyrical focus that he had developed in Lifter Puller.
Craig took time out of his busy schedule to let us know his thoughts on New York City, Minneapolis and what the Twins need to do to take it to the next level.
AD: How did you get involved in the Target "Odds Against 7even" shorts? Was it a shout-out of sorts from a big MN corp. to little former MN band that could?
CF: In some way, yes. I think Insound/Drill Team came up with the band suggestions, and then some people at the ad agency (also based in Minneapolis) were familiar with us
and pulled for using us.
AD: Do you have other film aspirations? Was Odds Against 7even your first acting gig?
CF: It was my first acting experience, probably all of ours except maybe Bobby our drummer,
who grew up in an acting family.
AD: If you had to give a logline or plot synopsis for each of The Hold
Steady records, how would it go? Pitch the script to me in 25 words or
less for each album.
CF: Almost Killed Me: Kids get found, then get lost. Separation Sunday: Kids get lost, then found.
AD: Of all of the characters that you've created (Dwight, Katrina,
Freddy Knuckles, Holly, etc.) who is his favorite and why?
CF: Hard Corey. I think he gets a laugh most nights. From Lifter Puller it was the Eyepatch Guy, for
the same reasons.
AD: NYC vs. Minneapolis: discuss. What do you miss most about the Twin Cities
and what is best part of being in NYC?
CF: The best part of NYC is the food, the excitement, and the diversity. The Twin Cities is very comfortable, and I miss a ton of people from there.
AD: Favorites cities and venues to play? And least fave? Come on, you gotta be honest.
CF: Minneapolis and NYC, obviously. Also Baltimore, which has always been good for us. I also love Seattle; I think it's the greatest city and
the rock shows are always great there too. Chicago has been great the last few times as well. As far as least favorite, I have a hard time playing outdoors anywhere,
it's hard to keep the energy focused. Although Intonation Festival in Chicago this summer was amazing. So maybe I'm coming around.
AD: If you could cover any song, which one would you do? And if you
could have any of yours covered, which one and by whom?
CF: Not sure, maybe "Rock and Roll Band" by Boston. The lyrics are super ridiculous.
As far as ours, maybe "Stevie Nix" covered by Stevie Nicks?
AD: Did The Hold Steady have anything to do with Plastic Constellations signing to the same label?
CF: We took them to see the band play, and the rest happened between the label and TPC. It's going to be a good move for everyone involved. I heard the rough mixes
from the album and they are awesome.
AD: What do rock stars like you do during the day?
CF: Rock stars like me go to our jobs during the day.
AD: Other than Bruce Springsteen who are some of your big influences?
CF: The Replacements, The Clash, Thin Lizzy, the Rolling Stones.
AD: Who are you listening to currently?
CF: The Constatines, Black Mountain, Felt (Slug & Murs), Mott the Hoople.
AD: What do you hope to achieve with The Hold Steady? Plans for new
direction? Would you do a "non-concept" album?
CF: I want to continue to make the music that I want to hear, and keep communicating with our audience. Those are really the awards in this game.
New direction, I'm not sure. It's an evolving band, but I don't think we are much concerned with a new direction.
I think we would do a "non-concept" album, and I kind of think we already have.
AD: "Banging Camp" -- ever, as a kid from Edina, experience anything
like that -- and how much of your lyrics are based on true stories?
CF: Well, yeah. A kid from Edina with a car is only 15 minutes away from real trouble if they want it.
My lyrics are not necessarily autobiographical, but are often pieces and stories about people I know or know about, mosty from the late '80s/early '90s in Minneapolis.
AD: If The Hold Steady were a movie... which movie would they be? Which
book would you be?
CF: Movie: I think we would be Old School because there is a lot of brews and a lot of high fives.
Book: Probably some trashy rock and roll bio.
AD: What do the Twins need to do to take it to the next level?
CF: They need hitting in the worst way. They need to get another hitter next year and also hope Mauer and Morneau will reach their offensive potential quickly.
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