The Hoodrat Recap: a Podcast For The Hold Steady

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 funniest THS lyrics, and you absolutely delivered. From classic crowd-favorite lines to deep cuts only the most dedicated fans would catch, we celebrate the moments that prove sometimes the saddest stories come with the sharpest laughs 😄🎤📼Funny when they shouldn’t be. Honest when they don’t have to be. And always worth another listen.Check out Lee Clontz’s blog here:https://clontz.blog/2026/02/22/fargo-humor-and-the-hold-steady/Listen to Tad Kubler’s new songs here:https://tadkubler.bandcamp.com/album/the-casanova-complexSend us a voicemail here:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcastListen to Gaspar & Mike breakdown the movie ”Project Hail Mary” this April here:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/film-studies/id1738835569https://open.spotify.com/show/6U78l2eCnoQ1T5bMbTNLna?si=ir75HvAJSIujqlMQdYGV5Q

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 basically transports you straight to London. Didn’t make it this year? You will after this episode. Already there? You’ll want to relive every second.Send us a voicemail :https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcastReach us at all things Hoodrat Recp:https://linktr.ee/thehoodratrecap?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=9c815bee-ca2c-48cb-b1af-c9ffd9863bc0

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 leaves an all-timer message detailing his origin story of fandom with THS—a generational saga, and a reminder of how deep this thing goes.Drain responsibly.Please send us a voicemail:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcasthttps://linktr.ee/thehoodratrecap?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=8a8d133d-6a72-4625-a7ab-c3624d823383

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 Dreams for the first time and explains—emotionally and honestly—how a resurrection really feels.Then guitarist Tad Kubler drops in to talk about the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” energy of modern Hold Steady shows: the Confetti Yeti, zombi dancing to Killer Parties, cramped stages, endless headlamps, and the beautiful chaos that comes with it all. Tad also gives an update on his solo work and what he’s been up to outside the band.It’s a heartfelt, hilarious, and slightly unhinged celebration of fandom, faith, and finding your way back to the sound that made you believe in the first place.Thanks to Al Storer for Tad Lego photo and artwork!Send us an email here:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcastListen here:https://podlink.com/1559319750?view=apps&sort=popularity

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 here first.Gaspar and Mike open up about their spontaneous decision to add a surprise “fifth night” to the weekend, and how that experience gave them a whole new appreciation for the “Unified Scene” and all of you who showed up and showed out.If you were in the room, this is your victory lap. If you couldn’t make it, this is your all-access recap. Let’s go.Please send us a voicemail:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcasthttps://linktr.ee/thehoodratrecap?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=8a8d133d-6a72-4625-a7ab-c3624d823383

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—the full track-order performance of Stay Positive, complete with three excellent outtakes that sent the crowd into full-blown setlist-nerd euphoria.By the time The Hold Steady wrapped up the main event, the total song count for the night hit a staggering 33 songs—a marathon, a celebration, and the kind of unpredictable blowout that only Night Three can deliver.Tune in as we break down the highlights, the rarities, the running jokes, and the absolute chaos that made this one a night for the books.Visit us at:https://linktr.ee/thehoodratrecapLeave us a voicemail at:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcastSend us an email:[email protected]

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 the main event? Eighteen more songs—a scorching, career-spanning set packed with deep cuts, favorites, and all the Massive Nights magic fans come for.Tune in for the complete breakdown of Night Two: the surprises, the singalongs, the lore, and why Massive Nights 10 is already shaping up to be one for the books.Visit us at:https://linktr.ee/thehoodratrecapLeave us a voicemail at:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcastSend us an email:[email protected]

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 Nights 10.Tune in for the full lowdown on Night One—the moments, the music, and the magic that only Massive Nights can deliver.Visit us at:https://linktr.ee/thehoodratrecapLeave us a voicemail at:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcastSend us an email:[email protected]

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 hoping to hear, we run through every hopeful request.You also shared what you’re thankful for as THS fans this year — and it turns out there’s a lot to be grateful for in the Unified Scene.Catch The Hoodrat Recap at:https://linktr.ee/thehoodratrecap?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=5a95d70e-20c7-4761-b2be-d4c19995786cSend us a voicemail:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcastMassive Nights 25 is almost here. Let’s get into it.

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=popularityCatch The Hoodrat Recap at:https://linktr.ee/thehoodratrecap?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=5a95d70e-20c7-4761-b2be-d4c19995786cSend us a voicemail:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcast

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Send us a voicemail:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcastSend us an email:[email protected] out everything at:https://linktr.ee/thehoodratrecap

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 Riversidehttps://linktr.ee/thehoodratrecap?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=04522c26-de54-4765-9127-a5c199e839d9Leave us a voicemail:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcast

In this episode of The Hoodrat Recap: Scene Report from BostonDamon 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 ReturnsThen 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 TablesBut 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 SceneIn 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.https://linktr.ee/thehoodratrecap?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=04522c26-de54-4765-9127-a5c199e839d9Leave us a voicemail:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcast

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.thehoodratrecap.comFill out our quick survey:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1MqdvDjV3PioUvMlYeJNFwnzpKJT8S9vU_NTXIsd5TLM/viewform?edit_requested=true&pli=1Leave us a voicemail:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcast

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/4uduvr5yCraig Finn  is playing an intimate house show in NY!Get tickets here:http://www.hamiltonparkhouseconcerts.comCheck out The Tisburys new album: “A Still Life Revisted”https://thetisburys.comMichael & Jeremy Steal Your Podcast - has stolen our Podcast!  Check it out here:https://tinyurl.com/4k8zmeu9Send us a voicmail to be entered in the contest:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcast

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!Fill out our quick survey:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1MqdvDjV3PioUvMlYeJNFwnzpKJT8S9vU_NTXIsd5TLM/viewform?edit_requested=true&pli=1Leave us a voicemail:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcastTickets for LA Pub Quiz still [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.Fill out our quick survey:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1MqdvDjV3PioUvMlYeJNFwnzpKJT8S9vU_NTXIsd5TLM/viewform?edit_requested=true&pli=1Leave us a voicemail:https://www.speakpipe.com/TheHoodratRecapPodcast