On their seventh album (and first in five years) The Hold Steady isn’t so much “We’re BACK mother****ers!” as they are “Alright. Alright. Alllllright”-ing their way back into our hearts.

Thrashing Thru The Passion finds the band sporting a slightly looser and expanded sound (horns!) and songwriter Craig Finn’s druggy, party-filled universe, a little older, a little beat down, but no less full of life. Join us as we dig into all of the good, bad, and magical highs found on the “return” of one of America’s most celebrated bands.

Franz Nicolay is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, true punk philosopher, and now…an author.

The Humorless  Ladies of Border Patrol chronicles Nicolay and his wife Maria’s tour through the underground punk/DIY scene of Russia and the Ukraine and is unlike any travelogue that has come before it. Immersive, poignant, and a treat for the senses , Ladies is the next step in an already vital career for Nicolay that is required reading for fans of music, punk, or just gaining a new perspective on the world we all share.

But enough of us gabbing. How about we let Franz tell you all about it…

In this episode, Kevin sits down with Franz Nicolay, revered multi-instrumentalist / composer / performer who you might know from bands like the World/Inferno Friendship Society, The Hold Steady, Guignol, Anti Social Music and much, much more. Hard at work on his next solo record Nicolay talks a little about the past, a little about life as a solo artist, and even a little about singing like Meatloaf. Tune in to this one kids, because when you’re talking Franz Nicolay, well that’s about as good as it gets!