OK OK. So, they didn’t really need proof. But let’s be real. You don’t have to admit it. We’re willing to bet we’ve known a good few Hold Steady fans in our day who threw around silly words like “seminal” in relation to Lifter Puller with earnest intentions of actually listening to their music, only to find out all of their albums were out of print. Well, for these people we have a deal. Put a once a month limit on the word seminal and we’ll reissue Lifter Puller’s entirely catalogue online. In this scenario, by “we” we mean online music retailer Orchard and by stop overusing seminal we mean stop overusing seminal. Seriously. Also, there is a LP book coming out that Finn and author Jessica Hopper put together entitled Lifter Puller vs. the End Of. With that and the Klosterman brogasm, Finn seems to have his hand in a lot of literary pots. And we all know literary pot is the best kind of pot. Honestly though, check out the albums next month. They’re totally good and weird and totally worth it. (Via: P4K)

Hot, sweaty messes,
Budweiser and sing-alongs;
Best bar band ever.

Ever since we got word that The Hold Steady would be making an appearance at Rachel Ray’s SXSW party this year, we’ve been anxiously awaiting the announcement of the full line-up. And the menu — soft tacos with smokey chipotle anyone? Sign us up.

Well the wait is finally over. (Of course now you have to commence waiting for the actual fiesta. Details.) The party, very officially called Rose’s Mojito and Rachael Ray’s Feedback: The B-Side, will kick off at noon on March 21 at Maggie Mae’s, in the heart of Austin.

The party will feature Austin-inspired recipes created by your lovely hostess, including those aforementioned Ancho Chicken Soft Tacos with Smokey Chipotle and Black Bean Chilaquiles. You can wash all that spice down with one of three specially created Rose’s Mojitos signature drinks, including Rose’s B-Side Mojito, Rose’s Austin-jito and Rose’s Lone Star Mojito.

The food, of course, is just the sideshow to the main event. The party will feature performances by The Hold Steady, The New York Dolls, Bob Schneider, The Airborne Toxic Event, Ra Ra Riot, Semi Precious Weapons, The Cringe, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Thermals and John Pringle.

Full details for the event can be found here.

Documentaries. All the cool kids are making them. Didn’t you know? The Hold Steady is releasing A Positive Rage, a documentary DVD and the band’s first-ever live album, through Vagrant Records on April 7.

The documentary kicks off with the band’s first performance in London in 2006 and features never-before-seen live footage, backstage interviews, fan commentary and original audio. The film follows them back to the U.S. for a 24-date tour, ending with a performance at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

The live album was recorded on October 31, 2007, on the second night of a two-night sold-out showing at the Metro in Chicago. The album includes 17 songs from that night, as well as five bonus tracks, including two that were previously unreleased: “Spectres” and “40 Bucks.” Check out the full tracklisting, and The Hold Steady’s spring world tour dates, below.

A Positive Rage track listing
01 Intro
02 Stuck Between Stations
03 The Swish
04 Chips Ahoy!
05 Massive Nights
06 Ask Her For Adderall
07 Barfruit Blues
08 Same Kooks
09 You Gotta Dance (With Who You Came With)
10 Lord, I’m Discouraged
11 You Can Make Him Like You
12 Your Little Hoodrat Friend
13 Southtown Girls
14 Citrus
15 First Night
16 Girls Like Status
17 Killer Parities

The Hold Steady world tour dates
02.04.09 – Sydney, Australia (The Metro Theatre)
02.06.09 – Perth, Australia (Laneway Festival)
02.07.09 – Adelaide, Australia (Laneway Festival)
02.08.09 – Sydney, Australia (Laneway Festival)
03.31.09 – Albany, NY (Valentine’s)
04.01.09 – Buffalo, NY (Tralf Music Hall)
04.02.09 – Grand Rapids, Mich. (Calvin College Fine Arts Center)
04.03.09 – Urbana, Ill. (Illini Courtyard Café)
04.04.09 – Bloomington, Ind. (Jake’s Nightclub)
04.06.09 – St. Louis, Mo. (Gargoyle)
04.07.09 – Iowa City, Iowa (The Picador)
04.08.09 – Omaha, Neb. (Slowdown)
04.10.09 – Boulder, Colo. (Fox Theatre)
04.11.09 – Salt Lake City, Utah (The Urban Lounge)
04.13.09 – Las Vegas, Nev. (Beauty Bar)
04.14.09 – Stateline, Nev. (Harrah’s Tahoe South Shore Room)
04.15.09 – Sacramento, Calif. (Harlow’s)
04.17.09 – Indio, Calif. (Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival)
05.10.09 – Glasgow, UK (SECC) #
05.11.09 – Manchester, UK (Manchester Evening News Arena) #
05.13.09 – Birmingham, UK (NIA) #
05.14.09 – London, UK (Wembley Arena) #
05.16.09 – Cardiff, UK (Cardiff Arena) #
05.18.09 – Bournemouth, UK (BIC) #
05.19.09 – Nottingham, UK (Royal Centre) #
05.21.09 – Brixton, UK (Academy) #
05.30.09 – Hunter Mountain, NY (Mountain Jam)
# – supporting Counting Crows

You either love their anthemic, E Street Band brand of rock ‘n’ roll or you loathe them as the world’s luckiest bar band (with great lyrics mind you). Either way, chances are The Hold Steady will be making a stop at a town near you. So pull out your ironic (or iconic) Bruce Springsteen t-shirt and let the debate begin.

From the press release: While The Hold Steady continue to rake in praise for their latest effort, Stay Positive, they also continue to please audiences the world over with their live show. While they wrap up a UK tour with one last date in London, The Hold Steady is ready to announce their upcoming Spring 2009 headlining tour, when they will be crossing the US with War On Drugs supporting.

Tickets for the band’s January 15 show at Chicago’s House of Blues are currently on sale and the tickets for the headlining tour go on-sale Friday, December 19.

The Hold Steady tour dates
01.15.09 – Chicago, IL (House of Blues – Cubs Charities event)
03.31.09 – Albany, NY (Valentine’s)
04.01.09 – Buffalo, NY (The Tralf Music Hall)
04.01.09 – Grand Rapids, MI (Calvin College Fine Arts Center)
04.01.09 – Urbana, IL (Illini Courtyard Cafe)
04.01.09 – Bloomington, IN (Jake’s Nightclub)
04.06.09 – St. Louis, MO (The Gargoyle)
04.01.09 – Iowa City, IA (Picador)
04.01.09 – Omaha, NE (Slowdown)
04.10.09 – Boulder, CO (Fox Theater)
04.11.09 – Salt Lake City, UT (Urban Lounge)
04.13.09 – Reno, NV (The Underground)
04.14.09 – Stateline, NV (Harrah’s Tahoe South Shore Room)
04.15.09 – Sacramento, CA (Harlow’s Night Club