May 06, 2016
Brooklyn-based rock band The Hold Steady will embark on an anniversary tour to commemorate 10 years since the release of Boys and Girls in America; and joining the road will be former keyboardist, Franz Nicolay.
Nicolay left in 2010, a few months before The Hold Steady's fifth studio album, Heaven is Whenever. With an ambitious need for change, Franz dabbled in a solo career. He previously told Paste, "[The Hold Steady] have their one big idea—making literate, wordy lyrics over big anthemic rock—and the last two records were about as good as I felt like I could do with that idea."
On The Hold Steady's side, Franz had already recorded material for their forthcoming album, which was reportedly scrapped and re-recorded with a different drummer. Though no replacement was a definite stick, and members Craig Finn, Tad Kubler, Galen Polivka, Bobby Drake and Steve Selvidge eventually shifted to a sound that focused on vocals, guitars, drums and bass.
But there's no bad blood! In a Facebook post, the band issued a statement exclaiming their excitement in Boys and Girls in America turning 10 years old. "A limited number of live shows" are to be announced on May 18th, and few dates are still being finalized. They stated: "The plan was that today was going to be the day releasing the precise info on everything. Unfortunately, some details with our co-conspirators changed and it required waiting two more weeks on the details."
In other news, The Hold Steady will also be reissuing 2004's Almost Killed Me and 2005's Separation Sunday on vinyl this Fall via Frenchkiss Records.
See the full Facebook post below:
Image: The-Toast