Lifter Puller

Lifter Puller was a Minneapolis-based indie rock band that carved out a cult following in the late '90s with their sharp storytelling and buzzy, lo-fi energy. Fronted by Craig Finn (later of The Hold Steady) and bassist Tad Kubler, the group blended post-punk urgency with darkly comic narratives about nightlife misfits, dive bar drama, and Midwestern ennui. Their albums—like *Half Dead and Dynamite* and the beloved *Fiestas & Fiascos*—played like gritty short-story collections set to wiry guitars and Finn’s signature talk-sung delivery.

Though they disbanded in 2000, Lifter Puller’s legacy grew as fans of The Hold Steady rediscovered their raw, witty roots. Recent deluxe reissues of their catalog, including *Slips Backwards* and *The Entertainment and Arts*, have reintroduced their chaotic charm to new listeners, cementing their status as underground pioneers of narrative-driven rock. Their music remains a time capsule of sticky floors, dim-lit clubs, and characters who’d steal your beer—or your heart—before last call.

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