Holding Steady.

The Hold Steady have announced the release of a new CD, entitled "Heaven is Whenever" due out May 4. The band reunited with producer Dean Baltulonis for the album, who also worked with them on "Separation Sunday" and their debut, "Almost Killed Me". It is also their first album that does not include keyboardist Franz Nicolay, who left the group in September.

In a press release, guitarist Tad Kublar said, "I think this is a guitar heavy record. But I would NOT say this is a heavy guitar record. The main objective being not to make the same record as the one previous. I love "Boys and Girls" and "Stay Positive". But they have a very similar feel and sound."

Here is the current tour schedule for the Hold Steady:
04-02 Ardsley, NY - LIFE
04-03 New Haven, CT - Toad's Place
04-05 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
04-06 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street
04-07 Albany, NY - Linda Norris Auditorium
04-08 Woodstock, NY - Bearsville Theater
04-09 Jermyn, PA - Eleanor Rigby's
04-10 Syracuse, NY - The Westcott Theater
04-12 Rochester, NY - The Club at Water Street Music Hall
04-13 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
04-14 Pittsburgh, PA - Diesel Club Lounge
04-15 Morgantown, WV - 123 Pleasant St.
04-16 Harrisburg, PA - Appalachian Brewing Company
05-05  Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre
05-06  San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
05-29  George, WA - Sasquatch Festival
06-12  Newport, England - Isle of Wright Festival
06-14  Paris, France - Fleche D'Or
06-21  Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkeg
06-22  London, England - HMV Forum
06-26  Manchester, England - Academy 2

My lucky sister gets to go, while as I am leaving Europe, they are coming. How ironic. Oh well, c'est la vie. I really want to go to the one in Harrisburg, PA. Appalachian Brewing Company sounds fun. Or the first one, in Ardsley- LIFE. It's so simple, so genius. I want to go to there.
-CE
Photo courtesy of Pitchfork.