Brooklyn Vegan — DOWNLOAD: Pearl and the Beard - Lost In Singapore (w/ Franz Nicolay) (MP3) Franz Nicolay w/ Hold Steady @ Coachella '09 (more by Darren Kim) You should know: I've left The Hold Steady. I told the band I'd be leaving... more info

Stereogum — Yes, Brooklyn's preeminent bar rockers just got one mustache lighter. The keyboardist/accordionist/backup vocalist explains his departure at franznicolay.com. Stay positive. more info

Rolling Stone — After five years of service with the Hold Steady, keyboardist/accordionist/pianist Franz Nicolay revealed in a statement on his official Website that is he officially no longer a member of the band (via P4K). “You should know: I’ve left The Hold ... more info

Big Apple Music Scene — Franz Nicolay, the keyboardist for quintessential New York band The Hold Steady is leaving the group, he announced on his website (thanks Pitchfork). He has been with the band for five years, since their breakout hit record Separation Sunday. Nicolay... more info

Chorus.fm — Franz Nicolay has left (http://twitter.com/unifiedscene) *The Hold Steady (http://myspace.com/theholdsteady)*. Submitted by notoaststereo more info

Aquarium Drunkard — I’m not going to qualify anything here—it’s tempting to get into a semantic argument about the differences between “best” and “favorite” records to explain why I think that twelve old-time rock ‘nâ... more info

Pop Tarts Suck Toasted — 30. M.I.A. - "Galang"; This is the song that turned M.I.A. into an international star. The song is catchy in its repetition and shows off a variety of styles and sounds all mixed into one crazy bag. It's what started the craze and set the rise of M.I... more info

Twangville — Well, here they are. My Top 25 albums of 2009. Last year I chose The Hold Steady’s ‘Stay Positive’ as album of the year. That album tied the Drive-by Truckers for numero uno according to the Twangville Posse. This year, I’m thrilled to say th... more info

My Old Kentucky — MOKB readers likely have a pretty good handle on my love of The Hold Steady. Chalk it up to hometown heroes, a prolonged 80s hangover or Catholic guilt, I consider Almost Killed Me (2004), Separation Sunday (2005) and Boys and Girls In America (2006)... more info

LargeHeartedBoy — American Songwriter interviews singer-songwriter Jason Isbell. The Hold Steady's Craig Finn talks to New York Magazine's Vulture blog about the stories behind his Lifter Puller songs. Highlights from yesterday's updates to the online "best of the dec... more info