Lifter Puller

Lifter Puller
Origin	Minneapolis, USA
Genres	Alternative rock Indie rock
Years active	1994–2000, 2002, 2003
Labels	Skene, No Alternative, Threatening Letters, Frenchkiss records, The Self-Starter Foundation
Associated acts	The Hold Steady
Past members
Craig Finn Steve Barone Tad Kubler Dan Monick Tommy Roach Dave Gerlach

Lifter Puller, or LFTR PLLR, was an American indie rock band from the Twin Cities and the Boston area between 1994 and 2000. Their music is considered innovative, with its angular riffs and a synth-infused sound that predated the 80's revival fads of the early 2000s. Arguably, however, the band is most known^{[citation needed]} for frontman Craig Finn's elaborate lyrics, which often relied upon a well established universe of drug-addled coeds, cash-strapped nightclub proprietors, murdered ravers and other nostalgic excursions in Minneapolis and Boston [1].

The band released three LPs and an EP before breaking up in the summer of 2000. In 2002, the compilation Soft Rock was released, featuring nearly every song in the Lifter Puller catalogue, excluding their final album, Fiestas and Fiascos, and the songs "Prescription Sunglasses", "Emperor", "Slips Backwards," and "Bitchy Christmas," as well as the original version of "Nassau Colisseum," the b-side to the "Slips Backwards" single.

After several years out of print, all of the original Lifter Puller records were re-issued digitally with bonus tracks in December 2009. These reissues were accompanied by a limited-edition book entitled "Lifter Puller vs. The End of."[2]

Singer/guitarist Craig Finn and bassist Tad Kubler are now members of The Hold Steady, which continues to explore some of the lyrical themes established by Lifter Puller while eschewing the art punk sound^{[citation needed]} of the prior band in favor of a sound more akin to classic-rock revivalism^{[citation needed]}.

In 2003, the band reunited for three sold out shows for the opening of the Triple Rock Social Club in their hometown of Minneapolis. They have a star on the legendary Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue on the 7th street side.

Members

Final band line-up:

• Craig Finn — vocals, guitar
• Steve Barone — guitar, keyboard
• Dan Monick — drummer
• Tad Kubler — bass (1998–2000)

Past members:

• Tommy Roach — bass (1994–1998)
• Dave Gerlach— drummer (1994–1996)

Discography

Full-length albums

• Lifter Puller — 1997
• Half Dead and Dynamite — 1997
• Fiestas and Fiascos — 2000

Singles

• "Prescription Sunglasses" — 1995
• "Slips Backwards" — 1995
• "The Mezzanine Gypoff" — 1996
• "Bay City Rolling" — 2001
• "4-Dix" — 2001

EPs

• The Entertainment and Arts — 1998

Compilations

• Soft Rock — 2002
• Lifter Puller Vs. the End of — 2009

See also

• Lifter Puller Folklore
• The Hold Steady

External links

• LFTRPLLR.COM Official Website
• Yahoo Discussion Group for Lifter Puller
• NightclubDwight.com - Unofficial Fan Site
• Village Voice review of Soft Rock

References

• Lifter Puller remembered with reissue series and book
• Interview with Craig Finn
• Pitchfork interview with Craig and Tad
• Archive of Lifter Puller's old website
• Interview with Steve Barone