Pitchfork

Let's get it out of the way: The Hold Steady sound like a bar band and, according to Rolling Stone or those ivy-leaguers over at Spin, you didn't hear their sweaty 2004 beast Almost Killed Me even though you really should have. Of course, you know that the band is the latest gig from Lifter Puller ex-pat and mealy-mouthed-pop-pasticheist-cum-dope-haranguer Craig Finn. (Round the office, we just call him God.)

And Jesus Christ, would you look at that: The Hold Steady just completed work on their sophomore release, Separation Sunday, due to street in the delicate hands of Frenchkiss Records on May 3. Recorded in NYC at Gigantic Studios during the back end of 2004, the album features the knob-work of Dave Gardner (Rocket From the Crypt, Drive Like Jehu, acerbic stuff like that) and Dean Botulonis, who lent his skillz to the Almost Killed Me sessions. >> Separation Sunday:
01 Hornets! Hornets!
02 Cattle and the Creeping Things
03 Your Little Hoodrat Friend
04 Banging Camp
05 Charlemagne in Sweatpants
06 Stevie Nix
07 Multitude of Casualties
08 Don't Let Me Explode
09 Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night
10 Crucifixion Cruise
11 How a Resurrection Really Feels

And, hey, what do bar bands do better than play music in bars? Yes, yes, drink in bars. But, we were going more for "nothing." In that vein, the Hold Steady have set up a nice list of watering holes and dive clubs 'cross the USofAlcohol to visit in the coming months. In addition, they'll be hitting up some festivals along the way, first Noise Pop in San Francisco, and later, this year's SXSW extravaganza in Austin. Now for a list of places to get drunk while listening to Craig Finn front a performance of Bat Out of Hell as interpreted by the E Street Band:

02-25 Los Angeles, CA - Knitting Factory
02-27 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill (Noise Pop Festival)
03-03 Lancaster, PA - The Lizard Lounge
03-06 Bowling Green, OH - Howard's
03-07 Lansing, MI - Mac's Bar
03-08 Chicago, IL - The Bottom Lounge
03-10 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock (w/Thunderbirds Are Now!)
03-11 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock
03-14 Omaha, NE - Sokol Underground
03-17 Austin, TX - The Whiskey Bar (Frenchkiss Records SXSW Showcase)
03-18 Austin, TX - SXSW CMJ/Rock Hall Party
03-19 Austin, TX - Take Action Party
03-21 Jackson, MS - Martins Lounge
03-22 Atlanta, GA - The Earl w/Bloodthirsty Lovers
03-24 Mt Pleasent, SC - Village Tavern w/Bloodthirsty Lovers
03-25 Raleigh, NC - Martin St. Music Hall w/Bloodthirty Lovers
03-26 Baltimore, MD - Otto Bar