The Hold Steady's last release, Separation Sunday, was a concept album. Singer Craig Finn's inspiration for their new critically acclaimed album was a line from Kerouac's On the Road: "boys and girls in America have such a sad time together."

Craig Finn and Tad Kubler left the Twin Cities years ago for Brooklyn, but they still spend a lot of time singing about Southtown and other unglamorous spots in the metro. They stopped by The Current studios and chatted with Mary Lucia about baseball, the glory of Detroit, and rock bands releasing perfumes.

Songs performed: "Chips Ahoy," "First Night," and "You Can Make Him Like You."