Life as a musician has its ups and downs. But The Hold Steady's Craig Finn knows how to stay positive.
"I just remember that I've had a lot worse jobs than this," explains the 38-year-old singer-guitarist of the beloved Brooklyn guitar-rock outfit.
"I understand how blessed I am to be able to do what I do."
A Hold Steady gig is almost always a sweat-soaked (and often beer-soaked) communal celebration of the many splendours of classic rock 'n' roll; and somehow, it's made even sweeter by the fact that the balding, bespectacled and foghorn-voiced Finn looks and sounds more like a guy who could fix your computer than one who can rock your world.
While the band's four albums, including last year's Stay Positive, are hearty servings of '70s bar-band rock anthems reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen, Minneapolis-born Finn's complex narratives usually run darker than typical pop-music piffle. After nearly a year on the road , the band had just started writing songs for their next album when we talked to their frontman about his characters and his own dark inspirations:
SUN MEDIA > Your voice has come a long way over the last couple of albums. I read you took singing lessons a while ago. Are you still trying to improve as a singer?
FINN > I took a couple of lessons when I was doing Stay Positive, mostly to strengthen my voice because we had long days in the studio. So that allowed me to sing more. I haven't continued the lessons, but I've continued to use the techniques I learned ... and I'd like to have the option to use more melody.
SUN MEDIA > Last time I talked to you was before you were famous and you weren't used to people recognizing you in public. How about now?
FINN > Since that time, we've been around the world. But I still have some trouble in that regard. I'm still getting used to the idea -- especially with all the blogs these days -- that all the world is a stage.
SUN MEDIA > You've used many of the same characters in your songs for years. Is that going to continue?
FINN > It's come to the point where sometimes, the best way I have to say something is to use one of those characters. I like the idea of it ... To me, they're also kind of a way to reward longtime listeners. People want to know what's next or what happens to them.
SUN MEDIA >What have you been listening to lately?
FINN > I've gone through a phase of Warren Zevon and Steve Earle lately -- just kind of rediscovering that kind of classic songwriting.
SUN MEDIA > Zevon and Earle can both be pretty dark guys.
FINN > Well, a lot of my favourite songwriters are.
