Live Review: Craig Finn & The People of Substance Band - Bowery Ballroom, NYC 5/30/25

Craig Finn & The People of Substance Band

Live at Bowery Ballroom 

NYC, 5/30/25

To celebrate the release of his new album, Always Been, Craig Finn decided to throw a party with an all-star backing band at the Bowery Ballroom on Friday night May 30th. The sold-out crowd arrived early, packing the small downtown Manhattan venue.

Opener Kathleen Edwards, who was pulling double duty tonight by also playing with Finn, played a short solo set of tunes on both her electric and acoustic guitar in front of the completely engaged crowd. The Canadian singer/songwriter opened with "Asking For Flowers" which had a Jackson Browne tone, while the pleasantly acoustic "Little Pink Door" was next as Edwards warned that the tune "was not about vaginas".  

The most lighthearted, and perhaps well received offering, was a partial song Edwards couldn't even fully remember called "Sports Analogies" as she playfully tried to recall a few verses of the old original tune that was all euphemisms for sex. She was surprised by the overwhelming positive reaction before the less joyful "Hockey Skates" and the more solemn "Six O'clock News". Edwards ended her brief opening set with a tribute to Finn's hometown of Minnesota as she expertly covered Paul Westerberg's "Only Lie Worth Telling" in winning fashion.        

After a short break the stage filled with a host of musicians, yet Finn started the set with a primarily solo version of one of his best songs, "Be Honest" with the crowd listening silently before a saxophone joined to close the tune. After ending the affecting number, the full collective eased into "Bethany" before Finn discussed the special group of players helping him out onstage this night.  

The majority were vital in the creation of his new album as Robbie Bennett, Nelson Devereaux, Dave Hartley, Anthony LaMarca, Josh Kaufman, Joe Russo, Adam Granduciel and Edwards comprised the core of the newly christened People of Substance Band. This impressive collection of musicians and producers kicked up the '80's pop energy that The War on Drugs is known for, delivering "Luke and Leanna" before Kaufman spiced up "The Man I've Always Been" with some dynamite slide guitar. 

Finn's relaxed singing sounded fuller and more nuanced in this live setting as the band was all smiles and incredibly well-rehearsed for a group of artists that each have multiple other projects cooking. The cover of John Hiatt's "Walk On" was highlighted by fiddle work and a great groove while the spoken word offering of "Fletchers" slowly built with pulsing sound and fluid sax. 

Russo's drums pumped up the electro twinged rocker "A Man Needs A Vocation" as Granduciel sang back up and used rising riffs in exciting fashion while "I Walk With a Cane" built dramatically with more huge sax work. The acoustic based "Clayton" cooled it down before the set closing "Postcards" once again was pushed forward by Russo's excellent drumming as Stu Boogie joined the band for a sax duel to wrap things up. 

The encore was started by "Shamrock" and the depressive tale was told in acoustic fashion before "Blankets" found harmonicas and six strings playing back and forth. The complex drama contained in the spoken word, cinematic stunner "God in Chicago" was powerful and could have ended the night but instead "Newmeyer's Roof" kicked back up the rock around another painful subject before " I Was Doing Fine (Then a Few People Died)" wrapped everything up. 

Finn's solo shows are an interesting mix of downtrodden weepers and light rockers that want to get loose which can, at times, feel oddly paired together. However, on this night, with the exceptional musicians in support, things were well balanced, and Finn sounded great in delivering his deep tales of searching while hoping for something better. 

_________
Support the artist and peep some video below: