The Hold Steady (photo by Shervin Lainez)

 

The long running indie greats have announced their ninth album, The Price of Progress, and shared the first single from it, the driving rocker “Sideways Skull.” The song  “is a rocking song about rock and rollers,” says frontman Craig Finn. “In this case, they’ve been taken out of the game for a bit of rest, but still keep their dreams alive as they discuss past glories.” Going on to say “We loved the big sound of this when Tad Kubler brought it into the band, and the studio performance of it felt especially joyful. We’re happy to put this forth as a first look at The Price of Progress, and the album’s title even comes from this song.”

 

Additionally, the band will celebrate their 20th anniversary with a busy schedule of shows throughout the year which begins on 1/28 at Music Hall of Williamsburg and will be a full circle moment for the band. They share “This will be a special event, with the show taking place exactly 20 years after the band’s first live performance, on the same site (then North Six). Two Dark Birds will be the special opener at Music Hall, harkening back to the January 2003 show where The Hold Steady opened for Two Dark Birds’ Steve Koester at North Six.”

 

 All current tour dates below. Check out our recent coverage from night two of their Massive Nights 2022 run.

 

 1/28- Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

2/2- Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar

2/3- Washington DC @ Black Cat

2/4- Philadelphia, PA @ Brooklyn Bowl

3/10- London, UK @ Electric Ballroom

3/11- London, UK @ Electric Ballroom

3/12 London, UK @ Colours Hoxton

5/12- New York, NY @ WFUV Highline Bash

6/30- Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed

7/1- Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed

7/2- Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle

11/29-12/2- Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl for Massive Nights 2023

 

 

 

The Price of Progress will release in full on 3/31 via Positive Jams. Listen to “Sideways Skull” below: