FRANZ NICOLAY (ex-The Hold Steady)

Event information

Franz Nicolay is that multi-instrumentalist and man-about-town peddling a modern vaudeville with full-throated songs and stories shamelessly strident, stentorian and more than a little sentimental.

He’s been a member of cabaret-punk circus World/Inferno Friendship Society, world’s best bar band the Hold Steady, Balkan-jazz carnies Guignol, founded the outlaw orchestra Anti-Social Music, was a occasional touring member of agit-punks Against Me!; and recorded or performed with everyone from Leftover Crack to The Dresden Dolls. He was recently named #1 of “Punk’s 10 Best Accordion Players.”

His new record, "To Us, The Beautiful!" is out January 20th on Silver Sprocket Bicycle Club and Xtra Mile Recordings. It was produced by J. Robbins and features Andrew Seward (Against Me!), Ara Babajian (the Slackers/Leftover Crack) and guitarist Yoni Gordon.

"A natural-born star...really something special." - Pitchfork
“Sad, wild folksongs...[an] unconventional multitalent.” – Rolling Stone
“Punk-tinged raconteur…mixes Americana and hip-hop flourishes with disarmingly honest lyrics and a sense of musical adventurousness.” – The New Yorker
"Swooning, epic, widescreen..[O]verflows with passionate energy.” – Alt Press
“A great storyteller and wordsmith.” – Punknews