HOBOKEN, NJ—During my drive to Maxwell’s on March 1, I couldn’t believe the day had arrived that I would be seeing Craig Finn perform live and in person. The lead singer of the rock group The Hold Steady released a solo album, Clear Heart Full Eyes, in January and…

SAYREVILLE, NJ—The last strains of The Hold Steady’s encore closer, “Slapped Actress,” reverberated throughout the room, the band waved and walked off stage, and half of the audience began filtering out through the back doors as the lights came on. Then, not unusually, the sound guy put some music on…