Just after the new year, we headed up to Woodstock to The Isokon studio to record some new songs. We were joined by Producer Josh Kaufman and Engineer D. James Goodwin, who have helped us record everything we've done for the past few years. It was a highly productive session, we pretty much just set up and cranked through the songs. The songs came together quickly and we were psyched on how they sounded. Overdubs happened back in Brooklyn, with our friends Stuart Bogie and Jordan McLean adding horns and Annie Nero doing some backup vocals. We thought “Denver Haircut” Read Full BioJust after the new year, we headed up to Woodstock to The Isokon studio to record some new songs. We were joined by Producer Josh Kaufman and Engineer D. James Goodwin, who have helped us record everything we've done for the past few years.
It was a highly productive session, we pretty much just set up and cranked through the songs. The songs came together quickly and we were psyched on how they sounded. Overdubs happened back in Brooklyn, with our friends Stuart Bogie and Jordan McLean adding horns and Annie Nero doing some backup vocals.
We thought “Denver Haircut” sounded like the first track on a record. “Blackout Sam” sounded like it should close an album side. In fact, these five songs together sounded like a cool A side of an album. So, after D. James Goodwin mixed the songs, we decided to put them together with some of our favorite songs we'd recorded in the past few years and make it an album. We pondered a track list for a bit, had our friend Dave Gardner master it, and here it is. We call it Thrashing Thru The Passion, which is taken from a line on “You Did Good Kid”.
I've remarked for a while now that this six- piece lineup of THS is the best we've ever had. It's not really even negotiable. And fifteen years in, I believe that we are making some of our very best music. We've come to a place that feels both fun and vital. When I listen to these songs, I feel a sense of joyfulness – I hear friendship, community, positivity and a love of rock and roll music. This band has changed all of our lives, and it continues to make changes. Good ones.
A lot of things have changed since we started in 2003. We've changed the way we approach touring, opting for multi show weekends in bigger cities rather than the skullduggery of month long slogs. This is more realistic for where we are at now, and we've also found it to make the band much more musical. More of our time together is spent playing and performing music than setting up and taking down gear, driving it to the next place, setting it up again. Also, these runs of shows have reinforced what an amazing community exists around this band, and how it keeps growing. All in all, making this change to the way we approach shows has given a new life to the band.
We've also made changes in how we release music. In late 2017, we dropped “Entitlement Crew” and “A Snake in the Shower” as a surprise before our second annual Massive Nights run at the Brooklyn Bowl. We made it available on Bandcamp, with a suggested donation that raised money for a charity. We've repeated that a number of times now, dropping these digital singles just before a run of shows. It's been fun to release music this way, it feels almost like a new episode of a serial. It also allowed us to escape some of the promotional obligations that come with releasing a full LP. In short, it keeps things exciting and fresh.
This time, with Thrashing Thru The Passion, we have released an album with five new songs and five that have been previously released digitally. That felt right this time. We can't say what we will do next time, but with the recording industry where it is in 2019, it feels wide open. We will continue to take the advice Paul Stanley offered on the classic Kiss song, “Room Service”, and do what we feel.
We are very proud to present Thrashing Thru The Passion. We are lucky and honored to have such a great community around this band, and we appreciate you being a part of it.
Thanks for listening. Thanks for understanding.
Stay Positive.
THS
(written by cf 06.04.19)
It was a highly productive session, we pretty much just set up and cranked through the songs. The songs came together quickly and we were psyched on how they sounded. Overdubs happened back in Brooklyn, with our friends Stuart Bogie and Jordan McLean adding horns and Annie Nero doing some backup vocals.
We thought “Denver Haircut” sounded like the first track on a record. “Blackout Sam” sounded like it should close an album side. In fact, these five songs together sounded like a cool A side of an album. So, after D. James Goodwin mixed the songs, we decided to put them together with some of our favorite songs we'd recorded in the past few years and make it an album. We pondered a track list for a bit, had our friend Dave Gardner master it, and here it is. We call it Thrashing Thru The Passion, which is taken from a line on “You Did Good Kid”.
I've remarked for a while now that this six- piece lineup of THS is the best we've ever had. It's not really even negotiable. And fifteen years in, I believe that we are making some of our very best music. We've come to a place that feels both fun and vital. When I listen to these songs, I feel a sense of joyfulness – I hear friendship, community, positivity and a love of rock and roll music. This band has changed all of our lives, and it continues to make changes. Good ones.
A lot of things have changed since we started in 2003. We've changed the way we approach touring, opting for multi show weekends in bigger cities rather than the skullduggery of month long slogs. This is more realistic for where we are at now, and we've also found it to make the band much more musical. More of our time together is spent playing and performing music than setting up and taking down gear, driving it to the next place, setting it up again. Also, these runs of shows have reinforced what an amazing community exists around this band, and how it keeps growing. All in all, making this change to the way we approach shows has given a new life to the band.
We've also made changes in how we release music. In late 2017, we dropped “Entitlement Crew” and “A Snake in the Shower” as a surprise before our second annual Massive Nights run at the Brooklyn Bowl. We made it available on Bandcamp, with a suggested donation that raised money for a charity. We've repeated that a number of times now, dropping these digital singles just before a run of shows. It's been fun to release music this way, it feels almost like a new episode of a serial. It also allowed us to escape some of the promotional obligations that come with releasing a full LP. In short, it keeps things exciting and fresh.
This time, with Thrashing Thru The Passion, we have released an album with five new songs and five that have been previously released digitally. That felt right this time. We can't say what we will do next time, but with the recording industry where it is in 2019, it feels wide open. We will continue to take the advice Paul Stanley offered on the classic Kiss song, “Room Service”, and do what we feel.
We are very proud to present Thrashing Thru The Passion. We are lucky and honored to have such a great community around this band, and we appreciate you being a part of it.
Thanks for listening. Thanks for understanding.
Stay Positive.
THS
(written by cf 06.04.19)
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Denver Haircut
The Hold Steady Lyrics
He shaved his head at the airport
In a bar at the end of the concourse
He said you're kind of catching me at a transitional time
I'm a bright light burning into a dark horse
She said I'll strap on the saddle
And I'm sorry but this city's a cesspool
I've kissed and I've cackled with half of these jackals
Still couldn't get any jet fuel
Walked her out to the taxis
Took her out to some parties
Found a man with a handful huddled over some car keys
It doesn't have to be pure
It doesn't have to be perfect
Just sort of has to be worth it
A Residence Inn at the top of the exit
You pay the admission and here's what you get
The stench of death in the credits
The montage set to the time of your life
A shot in the dark in a bar that's too bright
A window sucking up all the available light, right?
And a clock on the bed stand with a cord to connect it
Liberty and Justice into Master of Puppets
Rolling off of the mattress
Waking up on the carpet
It shouldn't have to be perfect
He said he can't read the paper
It's not worth the trouble
Finds out about funerals from the blasts of the bugles
Wherever he goes he always orders the usual
He likes to see what they'll bring him
In five hours on the carpet
He visits six different planets
On a spaceship shaped like a Gibson Marauder
The pilot kinda looked like Kirk Hammett
While he was floating in space that chick took his wallet
Wasn't really a date
Wasn't sure what to call it
That same stupid feeling but he likes his new haircut
It doesn't have to be pure
It doesn't have to be perfect
Just sort of has to be worth it
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: Craig A Finn, Steve Selvidge
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Zap Rowsdower
Wow. Those lyrics just make me happy, so brilliant.
Through the Tubes Reviews
Yes! So excited for a new Hold Steady album with Franz back in the mix. Craig's solo stuff has been nice, but nothing beats having the gang back together!
Misd Mea Culpa
Damn!! Those lyrics are genius level man good job 💖
Matt McMahon
Great way to start the day - a new Hold Steady drop! Fantastic guys
JakEnglish
Fell in love with Craig through the song Jester and June, and to hear his voice here was an unexpected delight. Cheers!
Rob Porter
Oh boy, I’ve been waiting for this since they played it in London in March. What a tune!
Shoof_
Amazing sound! Great album lads, gonna listen more of you, it better be as good as this one!
Media Monarchy
I keep fallin' more in love with each song...
Ben Weekes
So good! Thanks for this!
Mary Valletta Keith
Best poetry I've heard since Bukowski.