Music / academy
The Hold Steady interview
Still basking in the glory of a prestigious support slot with The Replacements in their hometown Minneapolis and adopted hometown of New York, Craig Finn takes time out to talk to us about The Hold Steady’s forthcoming Bristol show.
“The place we played in New York was a tennis court. When I was 13, I was playing tennis with this kid who asked me if I’d ever heard The Replacements and that was the first time I heard them. Now I’m back playing with them on a tennis court. That’s the circle of life.”
Craig, who’s been fronting The Hold Steady since their inception a decade ago is known for his brilliant showmanship and when you dig deeper into his influences it’s not hard to see why. “Springsteen is the best performer there is and seeing how he performs, I try to emulate that. Tom Petty too. I’m 43 now and really respect the guys who aren’t just a flash in the pan and are in it for the longterm, growing with their audience. That’s the benchmark.”
is needed now More than ever
And storytelling forms a big part of The Hold Steady’s repertoire. Craig said: “I’m a big reader and when I was growing up I listened to songs that told stories, so when I started writing my own stuff, I wanted to write songs that were stories. I take influence from a lot of things; walking around in new places gives me ideas.” When asked about whether Bristol inspires him, he replied: “I have had a day off in Bristol before and had some pretty good nights in Bristol, I don’t remember all the places, but it was fun.”
Earlier this year The Hold Steady released an EP of covers showcasing their broad range of influences, including Willie Nelson and Dr Feelgood. The record raised money in memory of a friend and fan who passed away. And one of their songs was used in the hit show Game of Thrones.
“We’re one of many bands who’ve had a song featured on Game of Thrones, The National and Sigur Ros I think. It’s a different band each season. I don’t watch the show, but some of my band mates do. It helps us reach more people.”
But it’s not all about the music for Craig, he’s looking forward to heading back over to the UK this month, where me plans to catch his ‘soccer’ team – Queen’s Park Rangers – play West Ham. Each to their own.
The Hold Steady play Bristol’s O2 Academy on Wednesday October 22. More info at www.o2academybristol.co.uk/event/67145/the-hold-steady-tickets
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