photos by Tim Griffin

"Several songs into the Walkmen's sold-out show at Webster Hall Thursday, Hamilton Leithauser wryly prefaced the band's first "hit" song "We've Been Had" by explaining that he'd just turned 31 the day before, Tax Day, April 15th. Anchored by Walt Martin's now-classic tinkering piano line, the band lurched into a half-speed rendition of the tune - the same one that once soundtracked a Saturn sedan zipping around exotic locales several years ago - that lent it an unexpected sweetness and vitality all these years later. When Leithauser warbled, "See me age 19 with some dumb haircut from 1960, moving to New York City, live with my friends there we're all taking the same steps, they're foolish now," he traded in his caustic bite and delivered it instead with an appropriately wistful tone of nostalgia; as it turns out, the Walkmen are growing up. They've moved to the city, lived with their friends here, moved away, dispersed, and come back together again. But they're not foolish. After the song, Leithauser joked, "we can play it that way now that we're in our thirties."" [EarFarm]

Continue reading "The Walkmen @ Webster Hall, NYC - pics "

Built to Spill @ ATP 2008 (more by Zach Dilgard)

The 2009 Pitchfork Music Festival -- to be held in Chicago's Union Park Friday, July 17 - Sunday, July 19 -- is announcing the first round of band's to perform at this years festival, as well as a new series that will include Friday's performances. On Friday, the festival welcomes Yo La Tengo, The Jesus Lizard (first show in Chicago in eleven years!), Tortoise and Built to Spill; Saturday will see performances by The National, Pharoahe Monch, and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, while Sunday's event includes Grizzly Bear, The Walkmen and Vivian Girls!

In years past, Friday night has been presented in conjunction with All Tomorrow's Parties and their "Don't Look Back" series, which is devoted to artists playing one seminal album from their back catalogue in its entirety. In 2008, Mission of Burma performed Vs., Sebadoh played Bubble & Scrape, and Public Enemy performed It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. 2007 saw Slint performing Spiderland, Gza/Genius performing Liquid Swords, and Sonic Youth performing Daydream Nation.

This year, the Pitchfork Music Festival is mixing things up a bit and putting the set lists in the hands of the fans, under a new series titled "Write the Night: Set Lists By Request." When someone buys a ticket they will receive a confirmation email that will include a link to a web page where they can vote on which of each band's songs they'd like to hear during their set - and truly be the ones to "Write the Night." Voting will begin on March 13 (when tickets go on sale) and will end on June 12.

Continue reading "Pitchfork Fest announces initial 2009 lineup (Gbear, VivGrls, National) - lets fans decide Friday setlists (BTS, Tortoise)"

Beach House @ MHOW (more by Zach Stern)

WAVVES has added a 3rd NYC show to his previously-announced itinerary. The new date is March 30th at Mercury Lounge with DD/MM/YYYY and Vampire Hands. Tickets are on sale. The other NYC shows are March 28th 29th at Cake Shop and March 29th 28th at Market Hotel. No advanced tickets for those.

It was already good news that The Walkmen added an April 16th NYC headlining show at Webster Hall. Now it's even better that Beach House has been revealed as the opener. Tickets are on sale.

Beach House's Victoria Legrand contributes to the new Grizzly Bear album. Tickets are now on sale for two Grizzly Bear shows at Town Hall.

Beach House's video for "Heart of Chambers" below...

Continue reading "WAVVES adds a NYC show, Beach House opening for the Walkmen --- tickets on sale now."

the Walkmen @ Masonic Temple (more by Natasha Ryan)

The Walkmen kick off a tour with Kings of Leon in Boston on April 19th. Being that KoL just played APW, headlined MSG, Radio City and Webster Hall, it makes sense that there is no NYC date scheduled for that run. Luckily that also means The Walkmen can play a NYC date of their own which they'll do on April 16th at Webster Hall. Tickets will go on sale March 2nd. Stay tuned.

Jane's Addiction - @ Echoplex, Los Angeles - Feb 16, 2009 (revolute)

Live Nation and Adam Zacks are pleased to announce this year's line up for the Sasquatch! Music Festival at the legendary Gorge in Eastern Washington. The festival, now in its eighth and most ambitious year yet, has evolved from a unique, homegrown & low key fest into a full blown three day extravaganza. A festival-goer's dream, it comes complete with camp-outs, canyons, sunsets, three stages and new this year, an expanded comedy and dance music tent. The tent will feature performances from comedians throughout the day, and then come dusk, will spotlight electronic and dance music artists.

Already the official opener to summer for music fans, the Sasquatch! Music Festival is becoming a certified monster of a musical event: this year features another exciting and diverse line-up for the musically adventurous, and ups the ante on an event already hailed for its independent spirit. Tickets go on sale Saturday February 28th at 10AM

Today it was announced that Jane's (feat. all four original members), NIN, Kings of Leon, Ben Harper & Relentless7, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Erykah Badu, The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, TV On The Radio, Animal Collective, Silversun Pickups, Bon Iver, Santigold, and many others are playing this year's Sasquatch Festival (May 23, 24, 25, 2009 @ The Gorge in Quincy, WA). Full lineup and ticket info below...

Continue reading "Jane's Addiction played LA, headlining SASQUATCH Festival (which just announced most of the 2009 LINEUP)"

The Walkmen @ Masonic Temple in December (more by Natasha Ryan)

"We live in scary times. Sure, we might wonder how that inane Southern California woman is going to feed fourteen mouths, but what about the family whose breadwinners lost their jobs, and now have not only no money to pay the mortgage, but feed their kids?

No one seems to care about those people. Everyone's too selfish. I've got mine, fuck you. But what if you suddenly don't have yours anymore?

You used to sell ten million records, now you can't even sell two. Those damn pirates! But those pirates are real people. Who overpaid to hear one good track on a CD. They've got no sympathy for you. And they may overpay to see superstars once, but not forever. The Stones don't sell out anymore. Nor does Springsteen, not even Madonna. The printed grosses are high, but that's because of the inflated ticket prices.

Is the concert industry headed for a fall? Just like the recorded music industry?" [Bob Lefsetz]

Most of the bands in this post recently announced a tour, or an update to their previously announced tour, and did not include a NYC-area date. All of them below...

Continue reading "TOUR DATES: Kings of Leon, Walkmen, Coldplay, Bloc Party, Black Mountain, Jason Isbell, Dr Dog, Little Ones & more"

photos by Natasha Ryan

Walkman/Dodo

Walt Martin of The Walkmen's Top 10 of 2008
1. Thee Oh Sees, The Master Bedroom is Worth Spending a Night In (astleface/Tomlab)
2. Thee Oh Sees, The Hounds of Foggy Notion (Castleface/Tomlab)
3. Thee Oh Sees, Thee Oh Sees/The Intelligence Split EP (Mt. St. Mtn.)
4. Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop)
5. The Howling Hex, Earthjunk (Drag City)
6. Bonnie "Prince" Billie, Lie Down in The Light (Drag City)
7. Beach House, Devotion (Carpark)
8. The Breeders, Mountain Battles (4AD)
9. Dirty Dancing Soundtrack (20th Anniversary Edition) (RCA)
10. Animal House Soundtrack (30th Anniversary Edition) (MCA)
(that list via Filter)

Continue reading "the Walkmen & the Dodos @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple - pics"

DOWNLOAD: Twi the Humble Feather - Finale (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (White Sirens Of Burr Remix) (MP3)

The Walkmen

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Fake Blood @ Plan B
* Doveman @ The Stone
* DJ Andy Rourke @ Beauty Bar
* Immortal Technique @ SOB's
* Neil Young, Wilco, Everest @ MSG
* Of Montreal @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* James Murphy & Sam Lipsyte @ Joe's Pub
* Corn Mo, .357 Lover & Growler @ Glasslands
* The Walkmen & The Dodos @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple
* The Antlers, Dark Dark Dark & Kate Ferencz @ Cake Shop
* Twi the Humble Feather, Here We Go Magic & Sharon Van Etten @ Bell House
* Souls of Mischief, The A-OK Collective, Takya Morgan & Rob Flow @ Knitting Factory

Kevin Barnes will also be at The Bell House tomorrow.

Tickets are still on sale for tonight's Neil Young show.

Tickets are on sale for David Byrne's show at Radio City Music Hall.

Tickets are on sale for Sharon Jones's shows at Nokia Theatre.

Tickets are on sale for Tim & Eric's show at Nokia Theatre.

Tomorrow is the Obits/Night Marchers show at Santos.

Dan Fogelberg died today in 2007.

Video of Louis CK "boxing and getting his stupid fat ass kicked" below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Edward Droste of Grizzly Bear's Top 10 of 2008

1. Beach House, Devotion (Carpark Records)
2. Department of Eagles, In Ear Park (4ad Records)
3. Portishead, Third (Mercury)
4. Nico Muhly, Mothertongue (Brassland Records)
5. Final Fantasy, EPs (Tomlab)
6. Hercules and Love Affair, Hercules and Love Affair (Mute U.S.)
7. M83, Saturdays=Youth (Mute U.S.)
8. Ssion, Fools Gold (Sleazetone)
9. The Chap, Mega Breakfast (Ghostly Int'l)
10. John Maus, Love is Real (Upset! The Rhythm)

Continue reading "updated Beach House tour dates, Ed Droste's Top 10 "

the Dodos @ the Spiegeltent (more by Ryan Muir)

Tickets are on sale for the Brooklyn Walkmen/Dodos show (thx Eduardo).

Pwrfl Power @ Union Hall (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Tobacco @ Purchase
* Hot Chip @ Terminal 5
* Madonna @ the Izod Center
* Jimmy Scott @ Iridium Jazz Club
* A-Trak, Boys Noize @ Webster Hall
* Mary J Blige @ Radio City Music Hall
* Voter Registration party @ Sound Fix
* a Showpaper benefit with "Secret '579' Guest"
* Dark Meat, Vivian Girls @ Rocks Off Concert Cruises
* The Kills, Magic Wands @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Lucinda Williams, Buick 6 @ Madison Square Garden
* Vaz, Skull Defekts, Talk Normal, Lary 7 @ Death By Audio
* Stereolab, Antipop Consortium, Hospitality @ The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
* Tyvek, Blues Control, Thomas Function, Liquor Store @ Cake Shop

Talib Kweli was born on this day in 1975.

The Showpaper benefit at Alpha(Beta) (170 Greenpoint Ave) lists Fiasco side project Runtime Error on the bill, though Runtime Error says that it is actually a Runtime Error side project playing the show, so maybe Fiasco is playing it and maybe they are who the "Secret '579' Guest" is or maybe there are two secret guests or who knows (do you?)...

I posted a preview of What's Going on Saturday too.

The gang from Sulimays reviewed The Walkmen and Cold War Kids. Watch the video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

The Walkmen @ Noise Pop 2008 (more by Ryan Muir)

As Will pointed out, The Walkmen and The Dodos are playing a show together at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple on December 16th. Check out our recent interview with the Walkmen. Check our pictures from the show the Dodos played in NYC on Monday night. Check out all of the Walkmen's tour dates below...

Continue reading "The Walkmen - 2008 Tour Dates (Brooklyn w/ the Dodos)"

JFE photo by Eve Prime

ex-Jonathan Fire*Eater frontman Stewart Lupton's band The ChildBallads play Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn tonight (Sept 25, 2008).

Check out our interview with The Walkmen.

by BrooklynVegan Mike

DOWNLOAD: The Walkmen - In the New Year (MP3)

The description of The Walkmen's music on their Myspace says "melodramatic popular song." That's about as close as you can get to defining their brand of rock n' roll. It's easier to say what they're not. They're not quite baroque. They're not quite moody. They're not arena rock. But it has all of these elements, and it just works.

The new Walkmen record, You & Me, is very good. We spoke with frontman Hamilton Leithauser about album titles, being handcuffed to their "sound," New York City, and the "Chinese Democracy" of indie rock literature - their novel.

---

The band's past album titles have generally peered into the mood of the record. You & Me is a rather basic album title compared to the others. How did you guys settle on it?

Hamilton: We had a lot of suggestions over time. We had long ones and different ones. That one [You & Me] was short and sweet and kind of rang true with most of the songs on the album. The track order and everything was done before we picked it. Basically, it was the last thing we did was come up with the title. It seemed sort of descriptive, in a way. It was really simple. We've definitely had some long ones [laughs].

continued below...

Continue reading "an interview with the WALKMEN +++ 2008 Tour Dates"

NY Press: How did you guys end up spending so much time on the bus?

The Walkmen's Hamilton Leithauser: I live in Manhattan, Pete and Walt live in Brooklyn, and Matt and Paul live in Philadelphia. We were doing the trip two days a week and they were coming up once or twice as well-- sometimes neither camp wanted to make the trip. It was actually probably a good thing for writing, because it put a certain pressure on the times the five of us were together. Our practice space in Chelsea was an on-again-off-again illegal nightclub, so some Mondays we'd come in and the place would be absolutely disgusting--poorly cleaned up vomit on the stage and bottles everywhere. The toilets, which were on the second floor, leaked and dripped down through the ceiling, so occasionally it would hit you on the head. In Philadelphia, we rented a space from our friends for $75 a month...If it's moderately cold outside, it's 20 degrees colder inside, and vice versa if it's hot.

They do it again tonight with The Muslims who are also playing Union Pool on Wednesday with Howlies.

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: The Walkmen - In the New Year (new MP3)

Hamilton Leithauser of The Walkmen @ Langerado 2008 (stevemoyles)

The swooning sounds of Ham & The Walkmen return with You & Me, due August 19th - the same day as the last of their two-night stay at the Bowery Ballroom (tickets are still available for the 8/18 and 8/19 shows). You & Me marks their return to the old school, the reemergence of The Walkmen of Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone and Bows + Arrows, and me definitely likey.

Judge yourself though..... one of two ways! You & Me is currently streaming at AOL (along with the new Dr. Dog, Takka Takka, and others) and/or you can pick it up NOW at Amiestreet for a paltry $5 and ALL of the proceeds go toward the Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center! Great album, great cause... no brainer to me.

Both Bowery Ballrom shows are with The Muslims. All, updated, tour dates below...

Continue reading "the Walkmen - new album stream, a good cause, tour dates"

photos by Ryan Muir

San Diego's The Muslims are returning to the East Coast in August to play four more NYC shows. Last time they were here they played seven, one of which was at Santos Party House with the Vivian Girls. The Muslims pics from that show are in this post.

The NYC shows: The Muslims will open both upcoming Walkmen shows at Bowery Ballroom, play at Union Pool the following night (8/20) with Atlanta's The Howlies (great site guys), and then again at the clothing store Dunderdon on the 21st. All dates and more pics below...

Continue reading "The Muslims - 2008 Tour Dates & Santos Party pics"

Tickets are on sale for the shows the Walkmen are playing at Bowery Ballroom.

The Walkmen @ Noise Pop 2008 (more by Ryan Muir)

The Walkmen are playing two shows at Bowery Ballroom in NYC in August, then two shows in LA, and then a few other shows in other places - all right before they release their fifth album this Fall on Gigantic....

Writing and recording of You and Me happened over a vibrant and rigorous 2-year period, during which the members of The Walkmen were split between Philadelphia and New York. The band rode Chinatown busses five days a week to work in two small rehearsal spaces (an old nightclub in Chelsea, New York and a warehouse in Fishtown, Philadelphia) to freeze by the kerosene heater in the winter, and sweat it out in the summer. By the time of the record's pressing there were over four hundred cast-off 8-track tapes littering both spaces.

Continue reading "The Walkmen - a new album & 2008 Tour Dates (2 x Bowery)"

photos by Ryan Muir

White Rabbits are not playing the Spoon and Handsome Furs show at Terminal 5 on April 9th. Neither are the Walkmen even though both bands will be on tour with Spoon before and after that show. It's probably because The Walkmen and White Rabbits just played a NYC show together at Webster Hall not long ago.

Supposedly White Rabbits are playing a show tonight though (March 28) - not WITH the Walkmen, but in their rehearsal space, and it's with Soft, The Subjects and Frankpollis also on the bill. All Ages. 140 w 24th street btwn 6th and 7th. $5.00 at the door. White Rabbits are also playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on June 7th. Tickets are on sale. They also played SXSW, and have a ton of other shows coming up all over the world.

To hear the latest song by White Rabbits, head over to RCRD LBL. More Texas pics, and all dates, below....

Continue reading "White Rabbits - a show tonight, Brooklyn & other Tour Dates"

The Walkmen @ Webster Hall, NYC - March 4, 2008 (Bryan Bruchman)

photos & words by Ryan Muir

(Thursday, Feb 28, 2008) - After a few flight delays in getting to San Francisco for the 2008 Noise Pop Festival (though I don't know if I'd really consider it a "festival"), I ended up making my way into a sold out show at The Independent to catch performances by Nyles Lannon, The Broken West, and the band that everyone was there for: The Walkmen. I just missed openers A Modern Machine.

The Independent is a relatively small venue - on the scale of Studio B in Brooklyn, but the upper balcony makes it feel a bit like Bowery Ballroom or Music Hall of Williamsburg. More photos and reviews from the show below....

Continue reading "Noise Pop day 1 (Walkmen, Broken West, Nyles Lannon)"

Continue reading "Spoon, The Walkmen & White Rabbits - 2008 Tour Dates"

Greetings. We had to cancel 3 shows on the way down to Florida because the scheduling wasn't happening. Sorry about that (if you cared).  We will still be doing all the others on the way back up though.  In other news, we are heading back into the studio tomorrow morning to finish up our fourth record.  We've been working hard on it for two years.  We've recorded in New Jersey and Mississippi, and we are going to finish everything in Manhattan.  We are very "psyched on" the whole thing.  We think it will be out in the late Spring or early Summer.  We are also toying with the idea of firing our manager Doug, although this will be the first he's heard of it. You are on THIN ICE.  Ok take care.  
-The Walkmen

Tickets are on sale for a March 4th show at Webster Hall. All dates below....

Continue reading "The Walkmen - 2008 Tour Dates, new album, firing manager?"