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 the weeds about movies you’ve probably never seen. This time, it’s the 2011 indie Stuck Between Stations. You can probably guess which song inspired that title.

The crew asks the hard-hitting questions:

🎥 Why should anyone care about this movie?

🎥 Did Michael Imperioli lose a bet to appear in it?

🎥 Did Josh Hartnett actually bike to the set just to retire halfway through filming?

Mike does his best to defend the film’s quirks as just another “typical Minnesota night,” but Derek and Mark aren’t buying it.

It’s a Hold Steady–meets–movie-geek mashup that’s equal parts critique, chaos, and good-natured ribbing — what could go wrong?

Catch The Canadian Movie Crew here:

https://pod.link/1739256989?view=apps&sort=popularity

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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 with all the energy you’d expect from Finn playing his old stomping grounds.

We also talk about opener James Felice, the bug-photographing squeeze box wizard who brings his accordion and keyboard magic to warm up the crowd. The big question: does this multi-talented musician actually look like Robin Thicke, or have we all been staring at stage lights too long?

Whether you caught one of these October 2025 shows or are living vicariously through us, this episode captures the spirit of a songwriter at the peak of his powers, surrounded by a crack band and playing rooms that hang on every word.

Topics: Craig Finn, Band of Forgiveness, Le Poisson Rouge, The Fine Line Minneapolis, James Felice, tour reports, live music scene​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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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 tale that captures the magic of finding your band.

Plus, Matt reveals his fresh ink - a brand new Hold Steady-inspired tattoo that cements his fandom in permanent form.

**Topics Covered:**

- Three-night LA residency recap (Tetragram Ballroom & Moroccan Lounge)

- Deep dive into setlist variety and new material

- Matt’s 2006 origin story as a Hold Steady fan

- The story behind Matt’s new band tattoo

**Guest:** Matt from Riverside

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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 gives us some juicy behind-the-scenes details about his forthcoming book, and of course, he hits us with one of his famous quizzes — the kind that keeps everyone on their toes.

 Turning the Tables

But this time, we flip the script. The hosts put Martin in the hot seat with quiz questions submitted directly from our audience. How does the Quiz Master handle being quizzed? You’ll want to hear this showdown.

 Dealey Plaza & The Unified Scene

In classic Martin fashion, he also ponders whether the outcasts who drifted toward Dealey Plaza on 11/22/63 — avoiding the “main stage” of history — share a spiritual link with members of the Unified Scene, carving out their own space away from the mainstream.

It’s another blend of live music storytelling, sharp trivia battles, and deep-cut philosophy--served Hoodrat style.

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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.)

💎 Diamonds in the Drain Game – Finale: We close with the nail-biting conclusion to our fan-favorite game. These are the toughest rounds yet, as we score the first three Hold Steady albums track by track. Which songs sparkle? Which ones sink? And will your favorite land a gold medal?

From brutal burns to bizarre casting calls to heated debates over beloved cuts — this episode has it all.

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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: early access to tickets and events like Massive Nights 10, lower ticketing fees, soundcheck and happy hour invites, first listens to live recordings, vintage merch, and exclusive archival content. Annual members also get a limited-edition Lanyards t-shirt. Sign up now and you’ll unlock the full audio from the Separation Sunday 20th Anniversary show, rare footage like the first-ever live performance of “Stuck Between Stations,” and more.

https://tinyurl.com/4uduvr5y

Craig Finn  is playing an intimate house show in NY!

Get tickets here:

http://www.hamiltonparkhouseconcerts.com

Check out The Tisburys new album: “A Still Life Revisted”

https://thetisburys.com

Michael & Jeremy Steal Your Podcast - has stolen our Podcast!  Check it out here:

https://tinyurl.com/4k8zmeu9

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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 Separation Sunday Tote Bag please either leave us a voicemail with a THS theme and let us know you want to tote bag--or leave us a review and note you want the tote bag! (but we only have one to give away) First come first serve!

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Tickets for LA Pub Quiz still available!

[email protected]

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 character “Nathen” that has his red

yarn conspiracy board tangled in new directions.

Finally, the Diamonds in the Drain game returns—but this time, it’s

the bonus tracks under the microscope. Can Kevin resist peer pressure,

or will “Kevin is Whenever” go rogue and crown a different gold medal

track than the rest of the gang? Tune in for music nerding, bold takes,

and group text energy turned all the way up.

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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 stop on their journey

- Gaspar's Instagram-breaking excitement throughout the adventure

- Mike rediscovering hidden gems in his own hometown

The Epic Shows

- Four unique shows at First Avenue, 7th Street Entry, & Fine Line

- Detailed breakdown of each stunning performance

- Special moments and surprises from the anniversary celebration

- The band's evolution over 20 years...(are they still getting better?)

Twin Cities Food Tour

- Gaspar's first time experiencing cheese curds

- The legendary Juicy Lucy adventure

- Local cuisine recommendations

Behind the Scenes

- Travel mishaps and unexpected discoveries

- Fan encounters during the trip

-"Howard the Human Bowling Ball" Strikes back!

-Soundcheck is crazy good

= Pub Quiz goes six for six

Follow Scott Sheahen on Instagram and view his excellent recap of “The Hold Steady” here:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJNLRV8vWu2/?igsh=ejR0YW5idGN1MTdi

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 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.

* Gaspar and Mike offer their predictions and Wishlist's for opening acts at the upcoming Minnesota shows.

* Mike provides his unique brand of travel advice for first-time visitors to Minnesota, including essential destinations, local customs, and food recommendations that may or may not be helpful.

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