The Hold Steady Debut Two New Songs In Texas

One of the hardest-working bands out there, the Hold Steady, spent last week in Texas performing their first concerts of 2012. Rolling Stone is reporting that, during the shows, they treated their fans to the world premieres of two new songs, 'Wait Awhile,' which debuted in Austin, and another song that has yet to be titled, which they performed in Dallas.

The perpetually prolific Brooklyn band have written approximately a dozen new songs and hope to go into the studio this summer to record their sixth album. Their last CD, 'Heaven is Whenever,' was released in May 2010.

Since then, the band has maintained a very active touring schedule, and frontman Craig Finn found time to write, record and tour behind a solo album, 'Clear Heart Full Eyes,' this past January. He also launched his own brand of beer in March.

Finn doesn't expect his recent solo work to have much of an effect on the band's new project. "The solo stuff is what I guess I would consider more traditional songwriting, as most people think of it," Finn said. "The band thing is so different because it comes much more out of the riffs, and I just worry about the lyrics. A lot of it is me just trying to find places to sing in between all the other noise."

Unable to stay still for long, Finn, who turned 40 last year, announced today (April 16) via Twitter that he will play his first-ever show by himself. "Hey Chicago people. I'm doing a solo show at the Empty Bottle on June 2. Just me, no band, first time. Hope to see you," he tweeted.