The Hold Steady

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.

Massive Nights