Every week, High Fives asks five bands five themed questions over five days. This week, we’re getting jacked on the material coming out of the Dischord Records archives (Dag Nasty! Government Issue! Reptile House!) and talking about re-issues.

Whether you first noticed him as the anarcho-accordian dude in the World/Inferno Friendship Society or the pianist with the moustache and the magnum of wine in the Hold Steady, chances are you’ve encountered the multi-instrumental prowess of Franz Nicolay in your travels. Most recently found backing up arena punx Against Me!, he’s played with everyone from Drive-by Truckers to Subhumans, the Dresden Dolls to the Bouncing Souls. And on top if it all, the man’s solo career is a thing of admirable beauty and tireless work ethic; I basically have no idea when he sleeps. Most recently, Nicolay released the fantastic Luck and Courage on Team Science/Sabot, and he plays the El Mocambo in Toronto on Tuesday.

Is there any one single album you’re waiting with baited breath to be reissued?

I guess I question whether you mean “reissue” per se, or whether you mean “re-mastered reissue.” In this internet age, there’s really no reason for audio to be unavailable, and it seems clear that there’s no fetish value in having a CD package. There are records that are inexcusably unavailable on iTunes – like the American Music Club Warner’s material – but I literally can’t think of any album I’ve tried to find that I haven’t been able to find, and pretty quickly too. There are albums that would be neat to have on vinyl, and there are ones that are begging for a half-decent remaster – a lot of stuff from the early CD era. The SST catalog being a glaring example.

Should reissues always come with new material? Have you ever bought a reissue and been let down by the bonus stuff?

I don’t think it’s necessary. It’s a curiosity, but not a selling point. If I’m buying a reissue I probably don’t already have the music, so I’d like to hear it in its original running order and shape. Usually outtakes are outtakes for a reason.

Do reissues diminish the value of a beaten-up original?

No, of course not; I mean, that’s “Art In The Age Of Mechanical Reproduction” for you right there. Any fetishist will tell you that intangible value accrues to an object that has actually existed longer.

Have you ever dropped too much money on a single record? What record? How much?

Definitely, when I was in college and music wasn’t really available online yet, I would order all kinds of stuff from overseas on GEMM or the like. Manu Negra, Karnak, various Charles Ives and Harry Partch recordings, stuff like that.

If one of your own records could be reissued on any format, what record and what format would you choose?

None of my records have sold enough to be out of print to begin with! I still would like Guignol & Mischief Brew Fight Dirty to come out on vinyl.