Craig Finn (Concert Quote)

I think I knew that there was a power in keeping it light or something, you know, or keeping it, you know, if you take whatever the opposite of desperation is, I think people really react to that. And so we were kind of like, whatever, you know. I mean, that was always my thing about how the whole study was going to operate, at least at the beginning. It was like,

I think I knew that there was a power in keeping it light or something, you know, or keeping it, you know, if you take whatever the opposite of desperation is, I think people really react to that. And so we were kind of like, whatever, you know. I mean, that was always my thing about how the whole study was going to operate, at least at the beginning. It was like,

Every time we have 10 songs, we'll call it an album. In that way, you're not recording 25 songs and being like, which are the best? And how do we perfectly sequence them? And how do we make our masterpiece? Like, no, we got 10 songs. Want to hear them?

Every time we have 10 songs, we'll call it an album. In that way, you're not recording 25 songs and being like, which are the best? And how do we perfectly sequence them? And how do we make our masterpiece? Like, no, we got 10 songs. Want to hear them?

Every time we have 10 songs, we'll call it an album. In that way, you're not recording 25 songs and being like, which are the best? And how do we perfectly sequence them? And how do we make our masterpiece? Like, no, we got 10 songs. Want to hear them?

Well, we were—I mean, we were the antithesis of something, you know? Like, a lot of the music that was happening there was really syncopated and pretty tight.

Well, we were—I mean, we were the antithesis of something, you know? Like, a lot of the music that was happening there was really syncopated and pretty tight.

Well, we were—I mean, we were the antithesis of something, you know? Like, a lot of the music that was happening there was really syncopated and pretty tight.

And we were kind of this big sloppy bar rock band. And I think people were kind of like weirdly refreshed by it. And it took pressure off in a way that like, I don't know, maybe at that point in my life, I just didn't need pressure on the art.

And we were kind of this big sloppy bar rock band. And I think people were kind of like weirdly refreshed by it. And it took pressure off in a way that like, I don't know, maybe at that point in my life, I just didn't need pressure on the art.

And we were kind of this big sloppy bar rock band. And I think people were kind of like weirdly refreshed by it. And it took pressure off in a way that like, I don't know, maybe at that point in my life, I just didn't need pressure on the art.

So with The Hold Steady, I thought, we just, like, play these shows around town, and we do this bar rock. But eventually, the bar started filling up, you know?

So with The Hold Steady, I thought, we just, like, play these shows around town, and we do this bar rock. But eventually, the bar started filling up, you know?

So with The Hold Steady, I thought, we just, like, play these shows around town, and we do this bar rock. But eventually, the bar started filling up, you know?

And the thing is, is when you're in New York, the press is inherently national, you know? Like, in Minneapolis, you were hoping for, like, you know, I mentioned the local weekly. Yeah. But then all of a sudden, it's in Rolling Stone, and then, you know... Booking agents want to talk. Labels want to talk. And then I remember we decided to make our second record.

And the thing is, is when you're in New York, the press is inherently national, you know? Like, in Minneapolis, you were hoping for, like, you know, I mentioned the local weekly. Yeah. But then all of a sudden, it's in Rolling Stone, and then, you know... Booking agents want to talk. Labels want to talk. And then I remember we decided to make our second record.

And the thing is, is when you're in New York, the press is inherently national, you know? Like, in Minneapolis, you were hoping for, like, you know, I mentioned the local weekly. Yeah. But then all of a sudden, it's in Rolling Stone, and then, you know... Booking agents want to talk. Labels want to talk. And then I remember we decided to make our second record.

And the Village Voice did an article on it. And then we got word that they were putting us on the cover. And it was the first time a band had been on the cover in a long time, a decade or something. And that was really experienced as a turning point. Felt like that's kind of when all of a sudden things kicked into overdrive. And we became the Hold Steady as a real band.

And the Village Voice did an article on it. And then we got word that they were putting us on the cover. And it was the first time a band had been on the cover in a long time, a decade or something. And that was really experienced as a turning point. Felt like that's kind of when all of a sudden things kicked into overdrive. And we became the Hold Steady as a real band.

And the Village Voice did an article on it. And then we got word that they were putting us on the cover. And it was the first time a band had been on the cover in a long time, a decade or something. And that was really experienced as a turning point. Felt like that's kind of when all of a sudden things kicked into overdrive. And we became the Hold Steady as a real band.