The Hold Steady

The Hold Steady
The Hold Steady, 2005
The Hold Steady, 2005
Background information
OriginBrooklyn, New York, U.S.
GenresAlternative rock, indie rock, heartland rock, post-punk revival
Years active2003–present
LabelsFrenchkiss, Vagrant, Full Time Hobby, Washington Square/Razor & Tie
Spinoff ofLifter Puller
MembersCraig Finn
Tad Kubler
Galen Polivka
Bobby Drake
Franz Nicolay
Steve Selvidge
Past membersJudd Counsell
Websitehttps://theholdsteady.net/

The Hold Steady is an American rock band formed in Brooklyn, New York in 2003.[1] The band consists of Craig Finn (vocals, guitar), Tad Kubler (guitar), Galen Polivka (bass), Bobby Drake (drums), Franz Nicolay (keyboards) and Steve Selvidge (guitar).[2] Noted for their "lyrically dense storytelling,"[3] and classic rock influences, the band's narrative-based songs frequently address themes such as drug addiction, religion and redemption, and often feature recurring characters based within the city of Minneapolis.

Formed four years following the breakup of Finn and Kubler's former band, Lifter Puller, The Hold Steady released the debut album Almost Killed Me in 2004. They came to prominence with the release of their third studio album, Boys and Girls in America, in 2006. In 2010, keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Franz Nicolay left the band before the recording of their fifth studio album, Heaven Is Whenever (2010). During the band's subsequent tour, the band became a five-piece once more with the addition of guitarist Steve Selvidge.[2] The band released their sixth LP, Teeth Dreams, on March 25, 2014.

Nicolay rejoined the band on May 4, 2016, and the band has since embarked on several concert residencies in the US, the UK, and Australia. To coincide with each event, The Hold Steady released stand-alone singles, marking the first recorded material of the six-piece line-up. Working with producer Josh Kaufman, the band released their seventh album, Thrashing Thru the Passion, in 2019, followed by Open Door Policy in 2021. The Price of Progress was released in 2023, also produced by Kaufman.

  1. ^ Marsh, Steve (September 11, 2023). "How The Hold Steady Kept It Together for Their Tell-All Book". Mspmag.com.
  2. ^ a b Dauphin, Michael (August 23, 2011). "LouFest Interviews: Craig Finn of the Hold Steady". Blogs.riverfronttimes.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  3. ^ Dye, David. "The Hold Steady: America's Bar Band". NPR Music.