Artist Spotlight ~ The Hold Steady

Making their Mountain Jam debut this year will be Brooklyn's own The Hold Steady. Taking the country by storm are Craig Finn (vocals, guitar), Tad Kubler (lead guitar), Franz Nicolay (keyboards, vocals, harmonica, accordion), Galen Polivka (bass) and Bobby Drake (drums). The band's style has been described as a "riff-heavy mixture of classic rock", notable for its "lyrically dense storytelling." To date, the band has released four critically acclaimed studio albums: Almost Killed Me (2004), Separation Sunday (2005), Boys and Girls in America (2006), and Stay Positive (2008).

With Stay Positive on the Billboard Charts, The Hold Steady abandon their day jobs and light out for the territories. But roaming that ribbon of highway isn’t all autographs and beer nuts. Here’s a rock and roll group grappling with their success, always on the brink of collapse – in love with the road, but praying to make it home in one piece.”

The Hold Steady have announced an April 7 release date for A Positive Rage, a double disc package featuring a documentary on DVD and their first-ever live album.