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PURCHASE 'DO THE STRUGGLE' HERE: Xtra Mile: http://bit.ly/NJkqXC / iTunes: http://bit.ly/OBehdq

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Produced by the Puppet Kitchen; Directed by Brad Kemp; Story by Michael Schupbach and Brad Kemp; 1st Bartender/Puppeteer: Eric Wright; Lady in Red: Emily Hope Price; Shot by Miles Kerr, Evan Mann, and Brad Kemp; Edited by Eileen Cohen and Brad Kemp; Set Props by Chloe Moser; Production assistance: Brendan Tay and Leila Ghaznavi; 2nd Bartender: Michael Schupbach; Extras: Jean Cook, David Brown, Megan Nicolay, Luke Janka, and Niko, Brendan Tay and Chloe Moser; Special thanks to Sivan Harlap.

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FRANZ NICOLAY

Brand new album 'Do The Struggle' out on Xtra Mile Recordings

Xtra Mile Recordings are proud to announce that the formidable and incomparable talent of Franz Nicolay has joined the label and will be releasing his brand new album this summer!

For his third LP 'Do The Struggle' -- out on 6th August 2012 -- Nicolay worked with producer oktopus, of the innovative New Jersey industrial/hip-hop group dälek, to move beyond the singer-songwriter soundworld to create a dark, explosive, and cinematic opus of personal and political anger, and about balancing the impulse to run away from trouble and the reality that it is the terrible things that happen to us that shape our personalities.

With the help of Guignol rhythm section John Bollinger (drums) and George Rush (bass, tuba) and guests including Ezra Kire (Leftover Crack, Morning Glory), 'Do The Struggle' stitches together the anthemic Pogues-meets-Arcade Fire of 'The Hearts Of Boston'; the Orson Welles-quoting pop-punk of 'Frankie Stubbs' Tears'; the gorgeous country ballad 'Take No Prisoners'; the showstopping orchestral march 'Joy' and the Smithsian jukebox weepie 'Did Your Broken Heart Make You Who You Are?' which will be the single preceding the album release out on 30th July 2012.

Currently on a worldwide tour including a month of shows along the Trans-Siberian Railroad, in Mongolia, and in Beijing; Nicolay will be making festival and headlining appearances in the UK in August. Dates confirmed so far are:

AUGUST
5 Rebellion Fest, Blackpool
8 Workingman's Club, Dublin
9 Menagerie, Belfast
11 Windmill, Brixton (all-day fest)
12 Bang Bar, Basingstoke
13 Olive's, Norwich (w/ Crazy Arm)
14 Stereo, York
16 Cavern, Exeter
17 Beautiful Days, Devon
18 Cardiff, Full Moon
20 Star And Garter, Manchester
21 Hull Adelphi
22 Dundee, Cerberus Bar
23 The Admiral, Glasgow
24 The Central, Gateshead
25 Edinburgh, Henry's Cellar Bar
26 Soundhouse, Leicester
27 Green Belt Festival, Cheltenham
28 The Peel, Kingston, UK (w/ Polar Bear Club, Into It. Over It.)
SEPTEMBER
1 Plymouth, Jack Cham's (Evening show)
1 Falmouth, Fish Factory Art Space (Afternoon show)
2 WTFest 4, Southampton
5 The Hydrant, Brighton

Franz Nicolay is that multi-instrumentalist and man-about-town peddling a modern vaudeville with full-throated songs and stories shamelessly strident, stentorian and more than a little sentimental. He's been a member of cabaret-punk circus World/Inferno Friendship Society, world's best bar band the Hold Steady, Balkan-jazz carnies Guignol, founded the outlaw orchestra Anti-Social Music, was a touring member of agit-punks Against Me!; and recorded or performed with everyone from Leftover Crack to Bruce Springsteen.

Praise for previous album 'Luck and Courage':
"Sprawling but fleet-footed...its execution is beguiling. Every bit as fascinating as its title."
-- 4/5 Q Magazine
"The sorrowful storytelling of Franz Nicolay may be unmatched. Each song seems to be the gripping tale of a tragic hero." -- Huffington Post

http://www.xtramilerecordings.com/
http://franznicolay.com/