Franz Nicolay Leaves The Hold Steady

[Photo by Sean Edgar]

Franz Nicolay, fabulously mustachioed keyboardist and backing vocalist of The Hold Steady, announced on his website (via Pitchfork) yesterday that he’s leaving the band. Nicolay joined The Hold Steady in 2005 and played on Paste‘s 11th favorite album of the decade, 2006’s Boys and Girls in America.

Nicolay wrote on his site, “I told the band I’d be leaving in early September, played my last show with them in Minneapolis around Thanksgiving, and dotted the t’s and crossed the i’s this week. Five years seemed like a nice round number. Thanks to everyone who was a part of the experience, especially the Unified Scene, who are nice folks. I’ll see you all soon in any case.”

We may be seeing Nicolay again as early as this week, when World/Inferno Friendship Society, a jazz-punk outfit he’s played with, starts streaming songs form its upcoming Valentine’s Day 7" release. World/Inferno Presents: Vox Inferne promises “harmonies tighter than Errol Flynn after a three-week bender.” He may not be harmonizing with Craig Finn anymore, but Nicolay clearly isn’t done making music.

Nicolay has also recorded a solo album and written a book of short stories, Complicated Gardening Techniques. He also plays with New York punk-klezmer band Guignol and is producing a record from Brooklyn’s The Debutante Hour. Suffice it to say, dude ain’t gonna be bored.

Although it’s sad to see Nicolay leave The Hold Steady, the facts must be faced: There’s no better place in the world for that mustache than a klezmer band.

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