When the members of The Hold Steady first decided to start a band in 2002, their expectations were low: no tours, just some local shows - and probably no records. But things don't always work out the way they're planned, and seven years later the five-piece is now one of the most respected and popular rock bands in the country. After 2006's Boys and Girls in America established the group as a critic and fan favorite for their Springsteen-like take on Replacements-era punk, the band released 2008's Stay Positive, a sophisticated growth from Boys and Girls channeling Zeppelin-style classic rock. The album ranked #7 on XPN's Best CDs of 2008 list, and serves as proof that The Hold Steady will stand as one of America's foremost rock bands of the decade.
When the members of The Hold Steady first decided to start a band in 2002, their expectations were low: no tours, just some local shows - and probably no records. But things don't always work out the way they're planned, and seven years later the five-piece is now one of the most respected and popular rock bands in the country. After 2006's Boys and Girls in America established the group as a critic and fan favorite for their Springsteen-like take on Replacements-era punk, the band released 2008's Stay Positive, a sophisticated growth from Boys and Girls channeling Zeppelin-style classic rock. The album ranked #7 on 
