the hold steady
The Hold Steady’s Franz Nicolay Publishes First Novel
Autor and musician Franz Nicolay published his first novel, Someone Should Pay For Your Pain, which follows the story of singer-songwriter Rudy Pauver, who navigates resentment, family obligations, and everything else that comes with life as a cult icon in middle-age. And as a lifelong musician in various bands (he’s currently the Hold Steady’s keyboardist) Nicolay’s insight into that world comes across vividly. His first title was the nonfiction travel book, The Humorless Ladies of Border Control: Touring the Punk Underground from Belgrade to Ulaanbaatar. As for the Hold Steady, the band just released never-before-heard live concert audio with nugs.net, including performances from thesome Brooklyn Bowl. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined...
25 Artists, 25 Albums, 25 Years of Vagrant Records
For much of the last quarter-century, Vagrant Records has been synonymous with the emo and alternative scenes. Much like how Epitaph Records and Fat Wreck Chords have become well-established homes for punk, Vagrant remains one of the most significant labels in the world thanks to a catalog featuring hundreds of beloved albums and dozens of all-time classics. Beginning with the launch of the Get Up Kids’ Something to Write Home About on Sept. 28, 1999, Vagrant went on a several-year run that included some of the biggest names of the 2000s, ranging from Saves the Day to Alkaline Trio, Dashboard Confessional to Rocket from the Crypt. But rather than hanging the past when artists left for to major labels, breaking up, or otherwise parting ways with Vagrant, the label adapted, expandi...
The Hold Steady Share ‘Heavy Covenant’ From Upcoming Open Door Policy LP
The Hold Steady shared a new song, “Heavy Covenant,” which singer/guitarist Craig Finn says is about “travel, technology, and human connection.” It’s the second cut released from Open Door Policy, which is out on the band’s Positive Jams label via Thirty Tigers on Feb. 19. “The song came out of two different music pieces that the Hold Steady piano/keyboardist Franz Nicolay brought in, and with the help of producer Josh Kaufman, we combined them,” Finn explained of the song. “It came together quickly, and when our friends Stuart and Jordan came in and added the horns to the chorus it really seemed to bring it together. To us, this song is a great indication of where the band’s sound is at in 2021.” On Dec. 1, 2020, the Hold Steady put out “Family Farm,” the first single from the g...
The Hold Steady Announce ‘OPEN DOOR POLICY,’ Share ‘Family Farm’
The Hold Steady had grand plans for 2020, with tour dates that would have taken place during the summer and whatnot. And, again, you know, 2020. Singer Craig Finn released some new solo music and they’re reissuing Heaven Is Whenever. It definitely appears the band has been using their time wisely: The Hold Steady will release their eighth studio album, OPEN DOOR POLICY, on Feb. 19, 2021. It was recorded in upstate New York with producer Josh Kaufman and engineer D. James Goodwin. It’s the second album with this itineration of The Hold Steady. From it comes the stomping rocker “Family Farm,” which you can hear below. Here’s what Finn had to say about it all: “Songs are created a bunch of different ways in The Hold Steady, but to me, our most classic songs are driving rock son...
The Hold Steady Announce 10th Anniversary Edition of Heaven Is Whenever, Share Unreleased Song
The Hold Steady’s fifth album, Heaven Is Whenever, is turning 10 this year. (Where has the time gone?) To mark the anniversary, the band announced a new double-LP reissue, out on Black Friday, Nov. 27. The Deluxe Edition, available on black vinyl and limited-edition colored vinyl, features nine rare or previously unreleased tracks, including the newly issued “Separate Vacations.” Listen below. Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers penned the liner notes, and here’s what he had to say about the record: “HEAVEN IS WHENEVER saw one of the most loved bands of this, then still-new century take a perceived stumble and face a small comeuppance. It happens. Many bands don’t survive it, much less come out the other side intact and possibly better than ever…A lesser band might have imploded....
