“Stevie Nix” – The Hold Steady
(Words/music: The Hold Steady, available on Separation Sunday, Frenchkiss 2005) 

I felt sad for selfish reasons today when I saw that Franz Nicolay, the keyboard player for the Hold Steady, announced his departure from the band.  It sounds like Nicolay is leaving to focus on an array of other projects and seems like the right decision for him personally, so in that sense it’s a good thing for him.  I say that it’s selfish because I’m going to miss seeing him perform with the Hold Steady. 

Craig Finn’s distinctive storytelling and Tad Kulber’s classic rock-quoting riffs take up most of the attention, but Nicolay’s keyboard (going beyond piano to include harpsichord and accordion, among others) helped fill out the band’s sound.  At their live shows, Nicolay set up on stage right, flanking Craig Finn’s manic preacher performance with an array of gesticulations on top of his keyboard parts and backing vocals.  For most of the show, Nicolay remains a secondary player, content to let Finn and Kubler dominate the mix.  Then, when the band starts playing “Stevie Nix,” Nicolay has his moment in the spotlight.  After a couple blistering verses, the band stops and Nicolay turns the piano break before the final verse into a cadenza, improvising and extending the bridge with nimble trills and a giant smile.  It’s the one time of the show where all eyes are on Nicolay, and every time he made the audience feel like our attention belonged there all night.  As he finishes up and Finn resumes the story, the crowd erupts into thunderous applause (and if/when the band plays “First Night” in the encore, this routine repeats).  Perhaps the Hold Steady will recruit a new keyboard player eventually, and while they may play Nicolay’s parts, they will not be able to replace the man who played them.

I met Franz after a Hold Steady show once and he graciously talked to all of the gathered people for far longer than necessary (which I can say about all of the members in this band), and he was the same ebullient soul that bounced along behind the stage.  I wish him nothing but the best in all his new projects and look forward to hearing the end results.

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