The Hoodrat Recap: a Podcast For The Hold Steady

Three middle-era Hold Steady albums, one cage match: Stay Positive, Heaven Is Whenever, and the endlessly disrespected Teeth Dreams. This week we settle who actually deserves the skip-button reputation — and why the record everyone wrote off turns out to have more teeth than anyone gave it credit for.

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The Hoodrat Recap heads west for a Pacific Northwest run through Portland and Seattle, joined by Emerald City’s own Rachel and Riverside Matt. Three shows, three wildly different venues: a converted church, a public picnic area, and — yes — an actual working zoo.

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It’s back, it’s bracketed, and it’s got a drinking game attached — Diamonds in the Drain returns to crown a winner from The Hold Steady’s murky middle era. We’re pulling two tracks apiece from the three albums nobody can ever agree on ranking, and putting them head-to-head for gold, silver, and bronze. Spoiler: we cannot be trusted to be objective, because — say it with us — “but I like all these songs.” Drink every time we say it. You will not make it to the medal ceremony sober.

Before the bracket, we run down the latest Hold Stea...

Chicago ‘26: three nights, one tornado warning, and a travel itinerary scripted by chaos itself. Night one gets two songs into Talia Hall before everyone — band included — gets herded into the beer cellar for shelter. Night two, the Empty Bottle delivers as the stragglers finally roll in. Night three goes big: massive venue, four massive acts, and Garrett sliding in right as the headliner hits the stage. Gaspar recaps his travel disasters in full Boy Scout rock-uniform glory, and Mike won’t stop bragging about his Lincoln balcony seats in the Land of Lincoln.

They were, against all odds, de...

Tad Kubler stops by The Hoodrat Recap and it feels less like an interview and more like catching up with an old friend. We dig into his new LP Casanova Complex — how he played and engineered more of it than you might expect — and then things get good. Tad unloads road stories from his years with Lifter Puller and The Hold Steady that you will not hear anywhere else. What went down in Albuquerque? Why is Tad Kubler no longer allowed near the fireworks/pyrotechnics? All of that gets answered. So put on your head light…err (or whatever the he...

Mike had less than 24 hours in Boston. Did that stop him from catching two shows at The Sinclair? Absolutely not. Snuck in under the radar, did what he had to do, and lived to tell the tale.

Mark from Minny joins us fresh off four nights in Boston to break down every single one of them — and while he’s at it, he’s handing down the Ten Commandments of General Administration shows. Consider it required listening before your next THS outing. Mark has seen things. Mark has learned things. Mark has smelled things. Mark is passing the kn...

Rich Tarbell was there from the jump. Like, the actual jump — first shows, floor sweat, all of it. Then somehow he ended up with a camera pass and a direct line to more rock stars than you can shake a setlist at. (Spoiler: they were mostly lovely. Except for one guy from the ’80s who clearly never got the memo that it stopped being the ’80s.) Rich sits down with us to talk Hold Steady history, the beautiful chaos of those early shows, and how a fan becomes the guy with the best seat in the house.

Photo...

Tad Kubler has a solo album. It’s called The Casanova Complex. It sounds great. It sounds like nothing you expected. It sounds like three different bands depending on who you ask — and the guys absolutely cannot agree on which ones. This is that episode.

Also: Luke from Deepwoods, Michigan called in to vent and accidentally started a whole thing. What begins as a run-of-the-mill ticket buying grievance slowly turns into the kind of honest conversation this community didn’t know it needed!

listen to Tad Kubler’s new LP here:

https://tadkubler.bandcamp...

This week on The Hoodrat Recap, we kick things off with a transatlantic voicemail from Stuart in Scotland 🇬🇧—because the Unified Scene clearly has no borders.

Then we sit down with Lee from Atlanta for a Scene Profile conversation about one of the sneakiest entry points into THS fandom: the humor. From tossed-off one-liners to blink-and-you-miss-them punchlines buried in heavy moments, we talk about how the jokes are often the hook that pull listeners deeper into the songs—and keep them coming back.

Finally, we turned it over to you. We asked listeners to send in the fun...

They went to London. They survived. And they are NOT okay — in the best possible way. Guest host Beth is joined by Dallas from Dallas and Hurricane Jess, fresh off what they’re calling the greatest Weekenders yet, and honestly? We believe them.

This week we’re recapping every single moment of the London 2026 Weekenders — the Pub Quiz chaos, the meet and greet madness, the Storytellers session, and of course the main sets that had everyone absolutely losing it.

And that’s not all. You, the listeners, came through with so many reviews that this episode ba...

This week on The Hoodrat Recap, we wade deeper into the muck 💎🕳️ as Round Three of Diamonds in the Drains kicks off—with the controversial middle three albums taking center stage. Lines are drawn, takes are flying, and nobody’s pretending this is an easy stretch of the catalog.

Kevin reports back from Union Pool in Brooklyn with a firsthand review of Craig Finn’s solo show, breaking down the set, the stories, and how it hit in a more intimate room. (Or should we say right outside the room.)

But first we hear from Jeffrey , who...

On this episode of The Hoodrat Recap, we dig deep into the living, breathing history of The Hold Steady—and what it really means to come back home.

Stephanie from Wisconsin (aka UnifiedScene 1) joins us to tell her incredible story. She discovered the band at just their second show ever and quickly became part of the inner circle—helping shape the band’s earliest online presence and riding alongside the boys through the first four albums. Then, just like that… she disappeared for 17 years. Until last May, when she finally came back. Stephanie walks us through hearing Teeth Dr...

We made it to the finish line, folks…and somehow still want more. In this episode, we break down Night Four of Massive Nights and then zoom out to look at the entire whirlwind weekend. From rare cuts to sing-along chaos to those “I can’t believe they played THAT” moments, we relive every highlight.

Kevin hits us with the impossible question: “Which night was the best night?” We try to answer it. We fail. We debate it anyway.

Then—we drop some actual news about a huge weekend of shows coming this summer. Yes, you heard it h...

Night Three of Massive Nights 10 will go down as one of the wildest—and weirdest—in the history of the Brooklyn Bowl tradition. The venue’s heat was out, but the band more than made up for it, kicking things off with a scorching soundcheck surprise:

ten brand-new songs, unreleased, unrecorded, and completely unexpected. Fans who arrived early basically walked into a secret future-album preview.

Then came the opening act, the brilliantly named Stay & The Positives, who hit the stage with a wink and immediately launched into the album you know they were going to play—t...

Scene Report from Brooklyn Bowl:

Night Two of Massive Nights 10 came out swinging, starting with the annual Pub Quiz—and this year delivered what might be the single greatest Hold Steady trivia question ever asked. (No spoilers… but trust us, it brought the house down.)

From there, the night exploded into something historic: a full-album performance of Separation Sunday, played front-to-back by a special six-piece opening band cheekily calling themselves Separation & The Sunday’s. They tore through the 20-year-old classic with a blistering, reverent energy that set the tone for a wild night.

And th...

On this special flash-cast edition of the Hoodrat Recap, we break down The Storytellers’ first-ever appearance at Massive Nights—and what a debut it was.

Cat from Vermont and Heather "with the Henna on her hands" joins us fresh from the front row to relive the sheer joy of finally catching Cat's “white whale”: a spectacular live “Curves & Nerves” that had the entire room buzzing.

The band kept the surprises coming with a jazzy, loose, and lively set, featuring rare cuts, fresh new songs, and reimagined favorites that set the tone for an unforgettable kickoff to Massive N...

In this Massive Nights 25 Preview, we kick things off with Gaspar’s unbelievable run-in with none other than Daniel Radcliffe. Yes, that Daniel Radcliffe. After recognizing Gaspar's tee-shirt, Harry Potter himself apparently lit up and proclaimed that The Hold Steady is his favorite rock band — setting the tone perfectly for the magic that Massive Nights always brings.

Then we turn things over to you — the listeners.

You told us your wish list for the 10th-ever Massive Nights, and you did not disappoint. From deep cuts to full-album dreams to the covers you’re hopin...

In this episode, we bring in two non-fans of The Hold Steady — Derek and Mark from The Canadian Film Crew and Or Is It podcasts — to give us their first impressions of three THS songs chosen by you, our listeners!

Will these tracks land somewhere on the “Mark Cohn–Barenaked Ladies scale”? And how does Spruce Stringbean interpret these lyrical deep dives? You might be surprised by how our guests hear the songs that mean so much to the THS faithful.

Then we let Derek and Mark do what they do best — get way in t...

This week on The Hoodrat Recap, we’re diving into the live music scene with a full report on Craig Finn and the Band of Forgiveness, who are tearing across the United States with their latest tour. The Hold Steady frontman’s newish solo project is proving to be essential viewing for fans of literate, character-driven rock and roll.

Gaspar phones in from (Le) Poisson Rouge in New York City, where he caught the band in their element at the intimate Greenwich Village venue. Meanwhile, Mike recounts his experience at The Fine Line in Minneapolis—a hometown show w...

This week on The Hoodrat Recap, Matt from Riverside joins us to break down an epic three-night Stand at two iconic LA venues - the Tetragram Ballroom and the Moroccan Lounge. Matt dives deep into the setlists, highlighting the impressive number of new tracks that made their way into the performances and how they fit alongside the classics.

But that’s not all - Matt takes us back to 2006 and shares the wild, exhausting story of how he first discovered The Hold Steady. From the chaos of that first show to becoming a devoted fan, it’s a ta...

In this episode of The Hoodrat Recap:

 Scene Report from Boston

Damon takes us straight into the rain-soaked streets of Boston with a first-person breakdown of the latest Hold Steady show. From a weather delay that had fans buzzing, to the moment the lights finally came up, Damon captures every detail. How did the Dropkick Murphys crowd react to the confetti-soaked antics of the Unified Scene? We’ve got the play-by-play.

 Martin Fitzgerald Returns

Then we welcome back Martin Fitzgerald, the Quiz Master himself. Martin give...

Listener Voicemails: We kick things off with some truly epic call-ins. Who dropped the sharpest diss on Gaspar’s infamous “Freddy Knuckles” routine? And which listener scored a free one-year subscription to Laynards, including a soundcheck experience with The Hold Steady? The Unified Scene shows off some serious talent in this round.

🎬 Hold Steady Biopic Madness: Next, we tackle a listener question from Josh: What would a Hold Steady biopic look like? Things get wild when Johnny Depp and Steve Buscemi are both pitched to play the same band member. (Spoiler: it only gets crazier from there.)

💎 Di...

Join us and Dave Gottlieb of Death or Glory and Manager of The Hold Steady and Guitarist extraordinaire  Steve Selvidge for a talk about “the business” of The Hold Steady!

Plus Dave and Steve announce Massive Nights and give some insight into the band’s new fan club Lanyards!  You will even get a chance to win a free Lanyards account in our latest contest!

Show Notes:

Check out Lanyards—another way to stay connected to everything that makes being a Hold Steady fan so special. It’s full of great perks: e...

The Hold Steady took on the City of Brotherly Love — and we’re recapping all the action from another epic weekend of residency shows in Philly.

Gasper climbed the Rocky stairs, (licking?) the Liberty Bell, and the band surprised fans by unveiling three brand new songs. We’ve got all the soundcheck scoops, setlist surprises, and set-by-set breakdowns. Plus — who became the only multiple-time winner in The pub quiz? You won’t believe who took the title (again).

This flash cast brings the cheesesteak heat — live from Philadelphia!

***Special Note:

if you want a S...

Bill from Chicago might’ve said it best: the Hoodrats kicked off an

epic night at The Bowery Ballroom by squeezing into the tiniest bar in

NYC—and things only got bigger from there. Vermont Cat and Gaspar join

the recap to break down a Craig Finn show that featured up to eleven

musicians on stage at once. Which songs soared? Which moments hit

hardest?

Then, Gaspar gives his take on Craig’s Rough Trade set and dives deep

into a startling reveal about the charac...

Join Gaspar and Mike as they embark on an epic adventure through the Twin Cities to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic album "Separation Sunday." This special episode captures their whirlwind tour of Minneapolis landmarks, musical history, and local culinary delights!

The Twin Cities Scavenger Hunt

- **The Replacements House** - Mike and Gaspar visit this legendary music landmark

- **Mary Tyler Moore Statue** - Classic Minneapolis photo op

- **The Mysterious Bob Stinson Bench** - A hidden gem for music fans

- **Party City** - An unexpected...

 Gaspar tries to keep up as Stage Right Mike and Spunky Comstock recount their wild adventure to Codfish Hollow, Iowa, where they caught Craig Finn and Bob Mould performing together.

* The guys describe their unconventional journey following directions that included "take a left at the cow pasture" and encountering a town crier dressed remarkably like Jesse Ventura from "Predator."

* Mike and Spunky share how they tempted fate by visiting the Buddy Holly crash site the morning after seeing two iconic bespectacled frontmen perform. Spunky nicely ties Craig Finn to the "Dukes of Hazard" opening theme.

Is Always Been Craig Finn’s best album yet? We dive deep into his latest release, breaking down the rich storytelling and unforgettable melodies that make this record stand out. Plus, we explore Lousy with Ghosts, Finn’s companion book, and how it adds layers of meaning to the songs.

Do these tracks work better as a full narrative experience, or can you just rock out without the deeper dive? We break it all down—song by song, story by story.

Order your copy of Always Been and Lousy With G...

This week on *The Hoodrat Recap*, your favorite *The Hold Steady* fancast,

we’re diving into the band’s epic March 2025 London takeover! Join us as Jonas from Norway and Chris from Richmond hop on the mic to break down all the sweaty, singalong glory of “The Weekender,” “The Electric Ballroom,” and “The 100 Club” shows. From blistering riffs to barstool anthems, we’re recapping every moment that made these nights unforgettable.

Then, we dive into our voicemail inbox, which is overflowing with messages from fans who made the trip—especially our friends from the Netherlands...

In this special Flashcast episode, the crew breaks down Craig Finn's latest musical offering, "People of Substance". Join us for an instant, unfiltered take on the new track that's got everyone talking.

The hosts will explore the song's musical landscape, drawing connections to classic rock influences and dissecting its sonic DNA. They'll also provide the inside scoop on the upcoming album's track listing and release date, giving listeners a comprehensive preview of what's to come.

Exciting additions to this episode include:

- A call-in review...

Dive into the musical odyssey with us as we explore the elusive tracks of The Hold Steady!

In this episode, we delve deep into the vault of fan requests for the ultimate "white whale songs" - those tunes from The Hold Steady that fans have been yearning to hear live but have never had the chance. Listeners have submitted their most coveted songs, and we're here to discuss, reminisce, and maybe even dream about the day these tracks see the light of the stage. 

 But that's not all! Gear up for another th...

For our 50th episode we put 40 bucks on 4 “Massive Nights” as 100 songs were played to wrap up 2024!

We recap all things Massive Nights 2024 from the Brooklynn Bowl.And boy is there a lot to recap:

First Pub Quiz by Martin Fitzgerald in this place we call the United States.

Justice for “Teeth Dreams”…played entirely in the soundcheck.

 Who is “Psycho Craig?” and when did he learn to play the bass?

A sixteen year old song gets p...

Craig has been touring two different continents for his brand new solo show, “This is What it Looks like.”

We have the reviews of his New York City & Saint Paul shows with scoops on his exciting brand new songs!

But first, we start out with another grueling round of “Diamonds in the Drain.”

Kevin Is sure he has the songs in the correct order of greatness…

Gaspar of course, likes all the songs equally…

Meanwhile, Mike has trouble pronouncing penultimate…

So play along with the smash new drinking game...

Little Rock Lizzie and David from the Positive Posting Facebook group join us to break down three unforgettable nights of shows in Atlanta—plus one soundcheck that revealed more than anyone expected!

(43:34)

Then, we dive into listener-submitted Weird Al Yankovic-style parody lyrics for The Hold Steady. Get ready to laugh as we share some wildly creative submissions and even listen to a few brilliant parodies that take the band’s songs to hilarious new heights.

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In this episode, the ultra-talented, multi artistic Franz Nicolay joins us to talk about his latest book, Band People. Franz dives into how the book might feel therapeutic for seasoned supporting band members, though maybe not the best handbook for new recruits.

We also break down the brand-new cover of Jesse Malin’s “Death Star.” Join us as we explore the meaning behind the track and, as we like to say, “That’s no moon…”

Check out Franz’s new book at :https://franznicolay.com/

How was the Atlanta show?  Do you have parody lyric...

The band performs three stunning nights in Denver.

 Chase gives a very thorough review  including Craig’s birthday activities and what does the chant “poop dog” mean? 

Then hurricane Jess returns to the show. She describes the differences between a UK crowd and a Denver crowd and her first ever Hold steady concert in America.

Jess also reviews two recent Craig Finn solo shows in London.

She also expresses her love for the album, “Teeth  Dreams” and all the controversy's that come along with that.  

Then the guys have another spirited...

Bill Childs shares the story of how a chance run with Craig unexpectedly formed "The Hold Sweaty" and the hilarious pitfalls of designing a run route based on THS lyrics.

Then Bill sits in with us for another exciting edition of

***The Diamonds in the Drain Game****Opening Tracks Edition*** Will you be brave enough and play along with the brand new drinking game and take a shot every time one of the Hoodrats exclaims, " But I like all these songs equally?"

Plus,

****Breaking News****

All...

Like an Australian Great White, Andrew circles the Melbourne show gobbling up interviews with first time fans and a band member. Lowertown review: Mike gives an in-depth review of The Yacht Club show on the banks of the Mississippi River. Find out how The Hold Steady drowns the crowd with a killer set. (30:50)

Hot…Yacht Rock or Yuck…Naught Rock? Kevin & Mike dive into a debate with Gaspar over the merits of Yacht Rock, especially for fans of The Hold Steady. Will they manage to convert him? Please leave us a voicemail at: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheH...

The Best Bar Band in the Land on the Move**

**Summary:**

Join us as we follow the best bar band in the land, traveling across the country to bring their music to fans everywhere. From Seattle to D.C., Evanston to Milwaukee, and St. Paul to Atlanta, the journey to build something this summer!

**Fan Experiences:** - Hear from fans. - Stories and reactions from the kids at the shows.

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In this episode, photographers Lee and Lisa share their gritty experiences capturing the raw energy of "The Hold Steady" shows. From dodging punches to avoiding crowd surfers, they've braved it all to get the perfect shot amid the chaos.

 Key Highlights: - **Battle in the Camera Pit:** Lee and Lisa recount intense moments from the mosh pit, where getting the perfect shot means facing flying fists and falling bodies. 

 **A Dream Opportunity:** When the band approaches Lee with an offer to shoot the video for "Grand Junction," will he seize this career-defining chance or let it s...