The Hold Steady have been at work on the follow-up to 2010’s Heaven Is Whenever since last January. Along the way, though, they’ve shifted their focus to other creative endeavors, most recently providing songs for Game of Thrones and Seth Meyers’ Web cartoon The Awesomes. Now, before they release their eagerly anticipated sixth studio album in 2014, the band’s launched a PledgeMusic campaign to fund another side project with a forthcoming covers EP.
Each band member will choose one song to cover, and the entire five-track effort will be released on 12″ vinyl exclusive to their fan club, The Unified Scene. In addition to albums, downloads, and autographs, pledgees can receive a phone call from the band, go on a three-mile jog with frontman Craig Finn, have a heart-to-heart with Finn “to help you stay positive,” enjoy a tour of Memphis’ musical destinations with Steve Selvidge, take part in a soundcheck jam session with the band, enjoy a private pre-show acoustic performance, and get a haircut from Tad Kubler. Unfortunately, no romantic dinners or foot massages were tossed in.
A portion of each pledge will go to the K&L Guardian Foundation, which benefits the children of the late Mike Van Jura, aka “Jersey Mike”, who passed away last year. Jura was considered by the band to be the unofficial leader of the Unified Scene, adding, “Like many members of our audience, Mike had crossed from being a fan of the band to a real friend. All the members of the Hold Steady and the Unified Scene felt the loss immensely. We miss him.”
The campaign has already reached 97% of its goal, with 60 days left. Head here to pledge and watch a video message from Finn and Kubler. For a taste of their covers, check out their rendition of Huey Lewis & The News’ “The Power of Love”.
