The Hold Steady reveals spring tour dates

Alt-rockers The Hold Steady have lined up a two-week spring roadtrip through the US Northeast, the band's first outing since the departure of keyboardist Franz Nicolay.

The Brooklyn-based outfit kicks off the tour April 2 in Ardsley, NY, and ambles around the villages and cities of the region through an April 16 appearance in Harrisburg, PA. Dates for the 12-city trek are included at right.

The Hold Steady continues to support 2008's "Stay Positive," which reached No. 30 on The Billboard 200, marking the group's best chart performance to date. Produced by John Agnello (Son Volt, Dinosaur Jr.), the album follows 2006's "Boys and Girls in America."

Last month, Nicolay announced to fans that he had left The Hold Steady after five years in the band. "I told the band I'd be leaving in early September, played my last show with them in Minneapolis around Thanksgiving, and dotted the t's and crossed the i's this week," Nicolay wrote on his website.

"Franz is an extraordinary musician that brought a lot to our band and remains a good friend," the group responded in a statement. "We wish Franz the best of luck in his future endeavors and thank him for his contributions and good times along the way. It was truly a blast."