Craig Finn Welcomes Joe Russo, The War On Drugs, Josh Kaufman and More for ‘Always Been’ Release Show

Photo Credit: Dan Monick

On Friday, May 30, Craig Finn returned to his longtime home of New York City for a very special album release performance. After sharing his sixth solo studio album Always Been via Tarmac Recordings/Thirty Tigers on April 4, the singer-songwriter and The Hold Steady frontman took the stage at the iconic Bowery Ballroom for an intimate celebration of his next chapter. Finn’s formal introduction to the new record was bolstered by the People of Substance Band, his musical friends who pooled their talents for a nine-piece one-off supergroup.

The People of Substance Band, named for the exceptional lead single from Always Been, set Finn alongside a top-tier ensemble of collaborators, including album producer Adam Granduciel and his The War On Drugs bandmates like keyboardist Robbie Bennett, bassist Dave Hartley and guitarist Anthony LaMarca, who provide instrumental backing across the project. The other distinguished contributors were Bonnie Light Horseman multi-instrumentalist and producer Josh Kaufman, storied session saxophonist Nelson Devereaux, folk singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards and drummer and jam scene favorite Joe Russo.

Together, the venerable collective took the stage on Friday night with “Be Honest,” the enduring fan favorite from Finn’s 2017 album We All Want the Same Things. The band followed with a sequential full-tracklist run through the 11-song project, only interrupted by Finn’s debut cover of John Hiatt’s ‘95 country rock staple “Walk On” in the seventh spot. After concluding the main set with “Postcards,” the group returned for an encore of the album closer “Shamrock,” then pulled up older Finn solo essentials like “Blankets,” performed for the first time since Nov. 2022, “God in Chicago,” “Newmyer’s Roof” and the finale of 2015’s “I Was Doing Fine (Then a Few People Died),” which the frontman hadn’t performed in nine years.

Finn will take his new album on the road this summer with 12 scattered sets, including co-bill shows with The Mountain Goats, The Decemberists and Kevin Morby and bookings at XPoNential Music Festival and Guster’s on the Ocean Festival. From Oct. 9 to Oct. 25, he’ll cross the Northeast and Midwest with a 15-stop series supported by The Band of Forgiveness, his yet unrevealed new backing combo. For tickets and more information, visit craigfinn.net.