It was just last year that Craig Finn and The Hold Steady were opening for The Rolling Stones. If you think it couldn't get any better as far as opening gigs go, you may be right. This December, The Hold Steady will be opening for the Counting Crows, a band they have often been compared to by their detractors. While that sneer has an elitism no one likes, it's still a bit of a baffling move, as it could be argued that The Hold Steady are beginning to rival the Crows in terms of popularity. Still, as the indie/mainstream rock divide continues to devolve into irrelevance, moves like these can't be all that unexpected.

The Hold Steady/Counting Crows dates, which will conclude the Hold Steady's 2008 touring, are the following:

12.16 Den Bosch, Netherlands: Brabanthallen

12.20 Dublin, Ireland: The 02

12.21 Belfast, Northern Ireland: Odyssey Arena