It’s important to point out that me seeing Craig Finn was very last minute. I heard an interview the other day where Finn was discussing the roots of the title of his new album, “Clear Heart Full Eyes.” The new album title is a nod to the TV show, “Friday Night Lights,” which possibly ties in as a coincidence that he recorded the release down in Austin. The Texas ties are running deep and the sound of the pedal steel last night spun the typical bar sound that Finn usually evokes with his day job, the Hold Steady. His normal Ginsberg fashion of talking versus singing found a happy medium last night when the story would segway into the song and towards the bridge, he would start exercising his voice a little more. Not fully singing, but I’m ok with that. For those locals that have been to a sold out Larimer show, you would know that the first couple of songs are crowded in the stage area and typically clears out by the third or fourth song filling the bar area. Last night, the bar stayed empty and Finn captivated everybody with his anecdotes of Burt Reynolds and Dom Deluise movies or leaving the big city with your tale between your legs. The solo effort has plenty of “Jesus” references, and the visit down to Texas could’ve served as a cathartic experience. I never liked the Hold Steady, but it might be time to visit “Separation Sunday.”
