Resisting the musical trends in New York City, vocalist/guitarist Craig Finn formed the Hold Steady in 2000. Wanting to capture the sound of bands such as the Replacements and the Grifters, and recording mostly live, the band released its debut, Almost Killed Me in March 2004.Separation Sunday arrived in 2005. The band's third effort, 2006's Boys and Girls in America, marked its first release for Vagrant. After writing the majority of their fourth record on the road, the Hold Steady recorded Stay Positive, their most heavily produced effort. In July of 2008, the album was released by both Vagrant and Rough Trade. In 2010 the band announced the departure of Franz Nicolay. Later that same year they released their fifth album, Heaven Is Whenever.