Hold Steady Minnesota State Fair
Sept 2, 2023
The Hold Steady, and Craig Finn in particular, have a palpable, positive energy.
The first song on the first release, penned in the early 2000’s, was a prophetic announcement of that positivity.
As a guitar strums quietly lead singer Craig Finn recounts each decade of 20th Century turmoil from the stock market crash of 1929 to the crash of that very same market in Oct 2002.
The song abruptly changes tone as Craig loudly proclaims
“I got bored when I didn’t have a band. So I started a band man…
We’re going to start it with a Positive Jam - HOLD STEADY!”
Despite decades of “poverty, pestilence,
and war” this band was going to be about hope. Twenty years later Craig has
written songs with themes of broken people receiving redemption and grace. His
faith is often woven into the fabric of his lyrics.
For the well-initiated Craig Finn is a preacher reminding the faithful that amidst trouble and brokenness there
is hope and positivity. And probably a party.
Yes, there’s a few songs about
parties. Killer Parties. More about that at the end.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen The Hold Steady. The first show was on Nov 13, 2007 in Lawrence Kansas. My best guess was I've seen between twenty and twenty-two shows.
Reflecting on the things that occurred during the 72 hours this last weekend in Minnesota I'm confident last night was Number Twenty.
That confidence comes from the spiritual nature of a Hold Steady show. There's something greater than ourselves going on with this band. Twenty celebrations with the church of the Hold Steady faithful on their 20th anniversary tour feels right. In scriptures numbers have significance and this connection did not go unnoticed. It had to be #20.
We all have different ways we connect with God. Music is one of those. This story is a reminder that when you listen for God you will hear. God started talking to me an hour after arriving in Minneapolis and kept talking until I collapsed in exhaustion in passenger seat of our Nissan on Sunday afternoon.
This perspective isn’t the result of consuming a leafy substance before,
during, or after the show. It wasn’t even the mild beer buzz I had when my
ticket was scanned. It was people we met, things we experienced, and subtle signs that did not go unnoticed.
Thursday afternoon Kelli & I went to Venn
Brewing. As I walked over to a wall of merch, I noticed a man sitting alone at
a table near the door. He had a guitar case next to him, so I smiled and simply
said “Mine is in the car”. He stood up, we shook hands, and he told me he had
just arrived to play at the State Fair. I told him we were going to the fair. He took out a scrap of paper and wrote his name – Yawo Attivor - and the time/location
of his show and handed it to me.
We didn’t have a set schedule on
Saturday, but God had one. We found the stage at
the time he had written on the paper. Yawo is from the West African country of
Togo and his music reminded me of Paul Simon’s Graceland – one of my all-time
favorite albums. Much like Craig his smile was infectious and much like The
Hold Steady his music had a positive message. There’s no doubt we were led to
that place and moment to hear his message of hope and community.
Another connection happened earlier in the day when we met three
kids standing next to us on a crowded fairgrounds shuttle. One was wearing an
Auburn shirt and he reciprocated my friendly “War Eagle”. I've had more than one Auburn-related sign from God that my friend Jeff, who passed away in 2016, is doing just fine. After reflecting on the events of the weekend I believe this was one of them.
His two friends told Kelli they live in Tampa. She replied "We live in Kansas City". The young woman lit up and said she grew up in Lees Summit. She is a 2016 LS West graduate and went to Missouri State.
Our youngest son Seth is a 2016 LS North graduate and went to Missouri State. We showed her a picture and she recognized him. I texted him and he said he had a couple of classes with her.
There's more. She shared she was in the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. Kelli was an Alpha Delta Pi. More reminders that we are all connected, or in Hold Steady terms - we are all part of the "Unified Scene"
Like any huge event, the Minnesota State Fair is a mass of people and sensory overload. State Fairs are a celebration. As we went from one place to another a repeated refrain from Party Pit rang in my head. “Going to walk around and drink.” It’s part of the celebration and while we didn’t over-indulge, we certainly did walk around and drink.
We met a young woman and her barrel racing horse.
My cousin Kelly who was with us is an equestrian.
Walk around and drink.
We saw baby goats, massive rabbits, and a punk rock chicken.
Walk around and drink.
Went in a haunted house and saw an amazing International Music show.
Walk around and drink.
A High Noon Seltzer banner passed overhead every three or four minutes during the Intl Music show. With each pass I’d look at Kelly and say I suddenly had an urge for a terrible domestic seltzer. It was a running joke for a handful of passes.
When I opened my fridge at home to stock beers acquired in MN there were two High Noon seltzers left behind by the kids. A plane took off and pulled a banner for a stupid running joke. The first line of Entitlement Crew is "Tequila Take-Off, Tecate Landing." The flavor of the High Noon in the fridge did not go unnoticed.
Walk around and drink some more…
Shortly before going into the show,
we ran across pitch man Billy Newcomb selling salsa makers. He has been pitching in that spot for nearly 30 years. His family has
been a part of the fair for 85 years. He reminded me of my first career in
piano sales. My first boss pitched at the Iowa State Fair for 30+ years. His mother and grandfather fifty plus before that.
I pitched the fair for a decade.
It was miserable, and I’m thankful God put another career path in front of me.
I admire people who enjoy this work because I love listening to them. There’s comfort
in the familiarity of the pitch. “The jokes don’t get any better.”
He asked if anyone owned one and we replied to the affirmative. Kelly joked
that she had lost hers in a divorce. He stopped his pitch, asked his daughter
to hand him a salsa maker, and handed it to her as a gift. He refused to take
any money for it. Generosity.
SHOW TIME!
Kelli has been to three Hold Steady
shows with me. Even though concerts aren’t her favorite thing to do, and the
Hold Steady isn’t her favorite band, I’m thankful when she’s there with
me. I like sharing these shows with her.Cousin Kelly has been a Hold Steady
fan as long or longer than me. After the opening act I asked her how many
shows she’s seen.
Her answer gave me goosebumps. “This is the first.”
THE FIRST.
There were "FIRSTs" for many of us.
Craig Finn grew up in Minneapolis and many of his stories are set in the Twin Cities. This was the first time they headlined fair and brought a special energy that can only be captured once. At the start of the show Craig recalled his first rock concert, played at this very venue, by 70’s teen idol Leif Garrett. Same with Bobby & Survivor a few years later.
Craig does not play much guitar during shows. He usually has a guitar to start a show and will plays a handful of chords for emphasis during the first few songs. Then he sets it down. This is the first show I’ve seen him keep that guitar around his neck from start to finish.
Other "FIRSTs"
First Twin Cities Hold Steady show - they're always at their best in Minneapolis.
First outdoor Hold Steady show.
First Hold Steady show featuring occasional
guest players “The Horn Steady”.
First time seeing Mosh Pit Josh
scream the chorus to Stay Positive.
First show I’ve seen Craig play guitar on the intro to Positive Jam.
Memorable moments.
I tore up our State Fair map to
make confetti to throw at the appointed time during Hoodrat.
Singing along to many of the songs. "Our sing along songs will be our scriptures."
Bobby's rock star hair flying all night long.
The rough looking guy falling into another rough looking guy a
few rows ahead of me.
Unintentional yet unwanted contact.
They started exchanging words and I was expecting
a fight.
They hugged - that only happens at a Hold Steady show.
The cherry on top of all those firsts for me was being a part of Kelly’s first show. During “Lord, I’m Discouraged” I put my left arm around Kelli and my right arm around Kelly and swayed back and forth while Craig sang
Lord, I'm sorry to question your wisdom
But my faith has been wavering
Won't you show me a sign,
And let me know that you're listening?
An ironic lyric – my faith in that moment was anything but wavering. I knew God was listening. It was a poignant and beautiful.
I left hoarse, sweaty, and exhausted from jumping and singing (screaming?) along. The adrenaline didn’t wear off for another 12 hours.
The final song at every Hold Steady show is Killer Parties. While the bass and drums repeat the familiar chorus Craig announces he has one more thing to say. The faithful know and he encourages them to say it with him.
On a Saturday Night in St Paul Minnesota five thousand people lifted their voice in unison.
“THERE IS SO MUCH JOY IN WHAT WE DO”.
There IS joy in this band and I’m grateful for all the little and big things that made it a part of the Unified Scene.
Epilogue
I looked Yawo up the day after the show. “Studied at Drake University” immediately caught my eye. My mother is a graduate of Drake’s music school. I ran across a picture of him holding a Drake University flag. My mother posted a picture just a few days ago holding that very flag.
A smile towards Yawo was the first stroke on the Minnesota Hold Steady canvas. A picture with my mother and her Drake flag to share with him was the last. An unexpected connection that tied the whole experience together.
