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http://www.theartistsden.com/episodes/holdsteady.shtml

“With an album on the Billboard Charts, the Hold Steady abandon their day jobs and light out for the territories. But roaming that ribbon of highway isn’t all autographs and beer nuts. Here’s a rock and roll group grappling with their success, always on the brink of collapse – in love with the road, but praying to make it home in one piece.”

(February 3, 2009) – Vagrant Records and The Hold Steady announce an April 7 release date for A Positive Rage, a double disc package featuring a documentary on DVD and their first-ever live album. The set will be released on April 6 on Rough Trade Records in the UK and Europe.

A Positive Rage captures the excitement and high spirits of both the band and their fans in the days surrounding the release of their third full-length, Boys and Girls in America, (Vagrant) and ensuing world tour in 2006.

The 53-minute documentary begins with The Hold Steady’s first ever London performances with never-before-seen live footage, back stage interviews with the band members, fan commentary and the original, raw audio. Cameras follow the band as they return to the US for a 24-date tour that culminates on screen with an especially poignant performance at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

The live album was recorded on October 31, 2007 and includes seventeen songs that Craig Finn, Tad Kubler, Galen Polivka, Franz Nicolay, and Bobby Drake performed on the second of their two-night sold-out stand at the Metro in Chicago. The enhanced album will also feature five bonus studio tracks: “Ask Her For Adderall,” “Cheyenne Sunrise,” “Two Handed Handshake,” and the previously unreleased tracks “Spectres” and “40 Bucks.”

The booklet features personal photos and the band’s memories of the tour, including this excerpt from Craig Finn… “It ended up being a fantastic suburban blow out with band and audience on the floor, Frisbee and tailgating in the adjoining parking lot, and everyone singing along to every song…. It reminded me of the hardcore shows I loved as a kid, everyone sweating and screaming together in a rented hall. And drinking in the parking lot, of course. The next night worlds converged…. “

# # #

A Positive Rage track listing:
Intro
Stuck Between Stations
The Swish
Chips Ahoy!
Massive Nights
Ask Her For Adderall
Barfruit Blues
Same Kooks
You Gotta Dance (With Who You Came With)
Lord, I’m Discouraged
You Can Make Him Like You
Your Little Hoodrat Friend
Southtown Girls
Citrus
First Night
Girls Like Status
Killer Parties

War Child and Astralwerks Records are pleased to announce the full track list and artist lineup for the new benefit album, Heroes, which will be released on February 24, 2009. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Heroes will go to support War Child, an award winning charity that provides humanitarian assistance to war-affected children in some of the most devastated regions of the world.

The album’s concept mirrors one of the intrinsic aims of War Child’s efforts in war zones around the world – to place faith in the next generation. We asked some of the biggest legends in music history to select a classic track from their own songwriting canon, and nominate an artist from the next generation to create a modern reworking of that classic song. This album is the result: 16 exclusive and truly inspired cover versions.

The track list in full:
1.    Beck (Bob Dylan – “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat”)
2.    The Kooks (The Kinks – “Victoria”)
3.    The Hold Steady (Bruce Springsteen – “Atlantic City”)
4.    Hot Chip (Joy Division – “Transmission”)
5.    Lily Allen feat. Mick Jones (The Clash – “Straight To Hell”)
6.    Yeah Yeah Yeahs (The Ramones – “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker”)
7.    Franz Ferdinand (Blondie – “Call Me”)
8.    Duffy (Paul McCartney – “Live And Let Die”)
9.    Estelle (Stevie Wonder – “Superstition”)
10.  Rufus Wainwright (Brian Wilson –“ Wonderful & Song For Children”)
11.  Scissor Sisters (Roxy Music – “Do The Strand”)
12.  Peaches (Iggy Pop – “Search And Destroy”)
13.  Adam Cohen (Leonard Cohen – “Take This Waltz”)
14.  Elbow (U2 – “Running To Stand Still”)
15.  The Like (Elvis Costello – “You Belong To Me”)
16.  TV On The Radio (David Bowie – “Heroes”)

“I have been supporting War Child since 1995. Their work with children in war zones saves lives and their work with those who take decisions that help them to do something about it saves even more lives. The breadth of talent on this project is amazing; it’s great that so many people gave their time, energy and support to this initiative.  I urge everyone to support War Child.” – Sir Paul McCartney

“War Child do exactly what it says on the tin. These kids shouldn’t be in such circumstances in the first place, but they are, so thank god someone’s doing something about it.” – Guy Garvey, Elbow

“On television we are constantly bombarded by all these horrific images. It’s important to realize that they are real people, real children, and that they need real help and real love.” – Rufus Wainwright

The album is dedicated to the support of the real heroes – children who live with the brutal effects of war.