This morning Pitchfork Media announced that the Hold Steady has signed with Vagrant Records. Band frontman Craig Finn is quoted:

"The Hold Steady is thrilled to be working with the talented people at Vagrant Records. We feel that Vagrant will allow us to bring our music to even more people, while also understanding the things that make the band special to the Hold Steady fans, and to the band members themselves."

The Hold Steady is currently preparing the follow up to last year's acclaimed French Kiss Records released Separation Sunday. Pitchfork revealed that the band will enter the studio in May in hopes of a fall street date. New songs (which have appeared in the band's recent live shows) include "Stuck Between Stations," "Same Kooks," "Hot Soft Light," and "Massive Nights."

The Brooklyn, NY based act features guitarist / vocalist / songwriter Craig Finn, lead guitarist Tad Kubler, bassist Galen Polivka, drummer Bobby Drake and Franz Nicolay (World / Inferno Friendship Society) on keyboards. Finn and Kubler were members of Minneapolis art-punk act Lifter Puller, who disbanded in the summer of 2000.