Pitchfork

Photo by Kirstie Shanley

The Hold Steady's Franz Nicolay is-- to put it lightly-- a dreamboat. That moustache! Those ivory-tickling hands! That moustache! The man's hunkiness is simply not up for debate. What's more, he's also an accomplished composer, which, when coupled with the last sentence (and the fact that he's in the Hold Steady), adds up the full package.

Who wouldn't want a well-rounded fella like Franz serenading them just in time for Valentine's Day? Lonely, helpless sorts, that's who.

On Friday, February 8, Nicolay will participate in the third annual Cupid on Demand benefit auction at the Parlour in New York City. To the highest bidder will go an original love song, which the winner can dedicate to the object of his/her eye (though if we were the winner, we'd make Franz write the love song about us). The tune will be written in just one hour, and then recorded and performed by Mr. Nicolay that very night. Swoon city, man!

Other songwriters offering their services that evening are Clare Muldaur-Manchon of Sufjan buds Clare and the Reasons, Ollabelle, and Erin McKeown. Proceeds from the auction will go to the New Sounds Theatre and Beth Morrison Projects.

If you can't afford to dish out the big bucks for an original Nicolay composition, you can grab a piece of Franz-- though you'll have to share-- when he performs solo at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg February 2. Or, perhaps, check the Hold Steady on one of their UK appearances scheduled between recording sessions for their new album. Or you could catch a glimpse at this May's ATP vs. Pitchfork festival, which the Hold Steady will hold down.

Franz Nicolay:

02-02 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg *

* with Robbers on High Street, Grand Mal

The Hold Steady:

02-25 Glasgow, Scotland - The Classic Grand
02-26 Manchester, England - Academy 2
02-27 London, England - Koko
05-09-11 Rye, England - Camber Sands Holiday Centre (ATP vs. Pitchfork) *

* with Jens Lekman, Hot Chip, Les Savy Fav, Black Mountain, No Age, Caribou, Of Montreal, Black Lips, Man Man, Los Campesinos!, the Clientele, Glass Candy, Dirty Projectors, Born Ruffians, Redd Kross, Marissa Nadler, Meat Puppets, the Black Angels, Howlin Rain, Harmonia, Wooden Shjips, Shit and Shine, Sebadoh, Car Sick Cars, Ween, A Place to Bury Strangers, Deerhunter, Pissed Jeans, Yeasayer, Apse, Even