The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn Shares New Album at Freehold House Concert

Craig Finn’s “Faith in the Future” album with personalized autograph and message

Despite this week being dedicated to Wilco, I could not resist the opportunity to curl up with Craig Finn fireside (in a figurative way) performing his new album, and ask him (of course) if his band (The Hold Steady) was going to play at Mountain Jam this year.

Inquiring minds want to know Craig!

Craig Finn @ Freehold, NJ (Feb. 2, 2016)
Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Unfortunately, Craig said Mountain Jam is not in the cards for The Hold Steady this year. (BTW… that really sucks and I’m pissed. My campaign for their 2017 appearance, alongside Drive-by Truckers, starts today!!)

After the disappointing news, Craig quickly changed the subject and started to ramble about his song writing approach. Craig explained that he likes to write songs about places… and the people that live in those places. People like Holly and Charlemagne from Massachusetts, Dennis and Billy from Champlain, and Christine from Memphis. Craig continued that the characters in his songs are not necessarily real people, nor are the places he writes about coming from first hand knowledge.

Craig explained that he likes to create a specific character so he can get personal with them. If you know The Hold Steady at all, you get 100% what I am talking about… and were kinda also wondering if all these wackos were friends of Craig’s or not.

Here’s the set list I found taped to mic stand on my way out.
(see pic of Craig singing above)

Me and my show mates (a lovely couple from Verona) were so frigin’ thrilled when Finn pulled out “Certain Songs” from The Hold Steady catalog. I just love that line “certain songs, they get scratched into our souls.”

They certainly do, and bring back vivid memories about specific places and feelings.

Bucking the trend on fiction writing, Craig’s song “Newmyer’s Roof” is about his experience watching the Twin Towers burn on September 11. He said “It’s a song about believing something better is coming; and the light after darkness.” (Heavy shit, but I wasn’t there to hear him play David Bowie covers and enjoyed every second.)

Here is the video (click here if the video box below is blocked by your browser)

On a light note, I was thrilled to hear Craig banter about the influence KISS had on his early introduction to rock music. Being of similar age, I know exactly what he is talking about.

I used to pretend along with my neighbor J. Shanley and B. Scanlon that we were KISS and stomped around on my basement furniture screaming “Rock and Roll All Night” and playing air guitar and drums.

I often was reprimanded by me mum for spitting fake blood on the floor and all over my two-toned Dallas Cowboys jacket from Sears.

Somehow, someway, the fact that former Kiss drummer Peter Criss lives down the block in Freehold and hangs out in the local Starbucks was discussed. Before things got personal about Chris, Craig quickly mowed into the next song.

I’ll have a decaf grande latte w skim milk

The show was at the super wonderful Mark Costanzo’s house in Freehold, where I was lucky enough to see Jay Farrar a few years ago also warming up for NYC solo gigs. Thanks again Mark and Elaine for opening up your home.

Mark’s backyard studio is lined with his beautiful portraits of artists that have played in his home.