Lifter Puller
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis, Minnesota , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
| Website | lftrpllr |
Lifter Puller, also known as LFTR PLLR,, was an American indie rock ensemble originating from the Twin Cities and Boston regions, active from 1994 until 2000. Their distinctive style, characterized by sharp guitar riffs and synthesizer usage, foreshadowed the 1980s revival movement that gained popularity in the early 2000s.
Throughout their career, the group issued three LPs alongside an EP before disbanding at the turn of the millennium. In 2002, a compilation titled Soft Rock was released, encompassing much of their work except for their last album Fiestas and Fiascos and a few additional tracks. After being unavailable for several years, all original Lifter Puller albums were re-released digitally in December 2009 with extra tracks, accompanied by a limited-edition publication named Lifter Puller vs. The End of.
Following Lifter Puller's dissolution, vocalist and guitarist Craig Finn together with bassist Tad Kubler formed The Hold Steady, carrying forward certain lyrical motifs while transitioning from art punk to a sound rooted in classic rock revival.
In 2003, the band reunited for three sold-out performances to commemorate the opening of Minneapolis' Triple Rock Social Club. Lifter Puller has been recognized with a star on the exterior mural of Minneapolis' renowned venue First Avenue, an honor reserved for artists who have made significant cultural impacts and achieved sold-out shows. This distinction is regarded as one of Minneapolis' most prestigious public acknowledgments for musicians. Notably, Kubler and Finn’s subsequent project, The Hold Steady, also earned this accolade.
Lifter Puller regrouped once more on July 4, 2015, at Triple Rock Social Club for an eight-song set during Dillinger Four’s annual "D4th of July" event. They also supported Atmosphere at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado on September 2, 2016, and opened for The Hold Steady at The Brooklyn Bowl on December 3, 2016, celebrating the tenth anniversary of Boys and Girls In America.
Members
Final lineup:
- Craig Finn — lead vocals and guitar
- Steve Barone — guitar and keyboards
- Dan Monick — drums
- Tad Kubler — bass guitar (1998–2000)
Former members:
- Tommy Roach — bass guitar (1994–1998)
- Dave Gerlach — drums (1994–1996)
Albums
- Lifter Puller — 1997
- Half Dead and Dynamite — 1997
- Fiestas and Fiascos — 2000
Singles
- "Prescription Sunglasses b/w Emperor" — 1995
- "Slips Backwards b/w Nassau Coliseum" — 1995
- "The Mezzanine Gyp b/w Star Wars Hips" — 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