Biography

The Hold Steady has been recording “Separation Sunday,” the sophomore follow-up to their smash-up 2004 debut “Almost Killed Me” (Frenchkiss Records) throughout November and December 0f 2004, in their hometown of New York City at Gigantic Studios. “Separation Sunday” is scheduled for release care of Frenchkiss Records in May of 2005. “Almost Killed Me” has been acknowledged in a wide-range of Publication’s Best Of 2004 lists, including Rolling Stone, Spin and Magnet among others.

“Separation Sunday” is being co-produced by Dave Gardener (Rocket From The Crypt, Drive Like Jehu & Hot Snakes) & Dean Botulonis (also helmed the knobs & whistles for the Hold Steady’s first record.) Some of the early song titles include, “Hornets! Hornets!,” “Banging Camp,” Your Little Hoodrat Friend,” and “A Multitude of Casualties.”

New York City based, The Hold Steady is fronted by singer/lyricist Craig Finn. Finn left Minneapolis for NYC in 2000 after the demise of art punk critical favorites Lifter Puller. Finn is old enough to have seen numerous performances by The Replacements in their Bob Stinson glory days. He longed to create music that had the same loose energy as the ‘Mats, the Grifters, and the Rolling Stones, while keeping alive the literary lyrical focus that he had developed in Lifter Puller. Enter Tad Kubler, Former Bassist of Lifter Puller is The Hold Steady’s Guitar player. Tad’s classic rock guitar riffage and screaming solos were a perfect fit for Finn’s rock ideal.

In new line-up news, joining Craig Finn (Lead vox/guitar), Tad Kubler (lead guitar) and
Galen Polivka (bass) are stand-out new additions Bobby and Franz. Bobby Drake is on drums. Drake has already completed a number of tours with the band. He recently relocated to NYC and officially joined the band. He previously played in End Transmission and Arm. The Hold Steady welcomes Franz Nicolay on keys. Nicolay is a current member of the World/Inferno Friendship Society. He also played piano and keys on Almost Killed Me.

The Hold Steady’s “Almost Killed Me” has graced many a magazine’s pages in the nod to the best and overlooked music of 2004. Craig Finn expresses his gratitude and excitement, “We are honored that so many people remembered Almost Killed Me in their year end polls. We are excited to kick off 2005 with a new record, a bunch of shows, and our two new band members.”