The Hold Steady (sadly sans Franz Nicolay) took Heaven Is Whenever‘s sturdy tune “The Weekenders” out for a spin on The Late Show with David Letter this past Friday. And as per the video below, we see Finn and the boys playing with three guitars and no keys here, employing former Lucero guitarist Steve Selvidge to round out the rock. As someone who’s seen The Hold Steady both with/without keyboards, I know they still pack a pretty powerful punch either way. The whimsy might be lacking in the absence of the mugging, mustachioed Nicolay, but watch Finn’s grins between lyrics and the band’s sure-fire confidence. The Brooklynites may not know the exact time of Heaven, but I think I know the place.
Apropos, Heaven Is Whenever is in stores tomorrow, May 4th, (via Vagrant) and The Hold Steady summer tour kicks off tonight in LA.
