Craig Finn Steady On His Own

Don’t worry fans, the highly popular indie band The Hold Steady is just fine and there is no concern for a breakup. But the band is currently taking a break from the band, lead singer Craig Finn is out on the road promoting his first solo album, “Clear Heart Full Eyes”, which came out last week on Vagrant Records.

As Finn describes it on the label’s website, he recorded the album during a break from the Hold Steady last summer in a sweltering Austin. Recording the album for three weeks, Finn enlisted several other musicians to create the album. The result is way more infused with blues and bluegrass than any of the Hold Steady’s work, with songs like “New Friend Jesus” showing that bluegrass influenced. But where Finn excels as usual is in his usual Springsteen-esque storytelling. Hearing songs like “Jackson” and the garage rocking “Honolulu Blues”, Finn keeps things entertaining enough on his solo debut, but provides a clear difference musically from his day job with the Hold Steady.

This is Finn’s first venture outside of the Hold Steady since forming the band in 2002 and it’s a big step for one of indie rock’s most enjoyable figures. If you are a fan of the Steady or just a fan of the different genres he bounces back and forth between, “Clear Heart Full Eyes”, should be one on your listening list.

Finn has just started his solo tour, which will run through March 5^th here in North American before heading to Europe for the rest of March. Making his way to the ever balmy February nights of Detroit, Craig plays at PJ’s Lager House on Wednesday, March 8^th. It’s a night to hear the new side to Finn and perhaps some of the Hold Steady favorites as well.

Craig Finn plays at PJ’s Lager House on Wednesday, February 8^th. Tickets are $10 and are available at www.pjslagerhouse.com. Additional tour dates and info can be found at www. http://www.vagrant.com/artists/news/72-craigfinn.