Franz Nicolay plays piano, accordion and pretty much anything with keys for a wide range of projects including The Hold Steady and cabaret-punk orchestra World/Inferno Friendship Society as well as his own burgeoning solo career. We talk on all that in addition to his output as an author (see links below).  This is one wide ranging chat we hope you’ll enjoy a great deal.

To listen / watch:

Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Franz’s past 12 months

Franz’s most recent solo album – New River

Seeking the challenge of being more exposed

Franz’s musical upbringing

The World / Inferno Friendship Society

Guignol – Bad Day at the U.N. 

Anti-Social Music – Anti-Social Wedding Music

Voltaire – The Black Labyrinth

Experience of being in highly democratic bands

Franz’s upcoming book – Band People

Humorless Ladies of Border Control and Someone Should Pay For Your Pain (check both of them out here)

Rebecca West – Black Lamb and Grey Falcon

Joining The Hold Steady

Franz live with The Hold Steady in 2023

The Hold Steady – Sideways Skull

The Hold Steady – Don’t Let Me Explode

The Hold Steady – Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night

The Hold Steady – Navy Sheets

The Hold Steady – Heavy Covenant (featuring some old soviet synth samples)

Franz’s rig with The Hold Steady

Franz’s solo work on YouTube

Tag a Keyboard Player: Garth Hudson, Geraint Watkins, Bob Andrews, Scott Thurston, Terry Adams, Ted Bois

Desert Island Discs: Mercury – American Music Club, The Ellington Suites – Duke Ellington And His Orchestra, The Band – The Band, Live at Montreaux – Andrew Hill, Fourth Symphony (Live) – Charles Ives

Key links:

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