Mark your calendars, kids: 5/23 is the release date for The Walkmen’s third full length, A Hundred Miles Off. Last night Skylight Studios played host to the Filter Magazine Music Appreciation Party, a mix of free booze and industry schmooze. But where I come from — and aside from a blazing Duke Spirit opening set — it was “The Walkmen show.” Over twelve songs (and the din of gabby unacquainted socialites) the band delivered a set of party starters and promising new cuts.
Though the new stuff was bound to be the focus, The Walkmen avoided a scenester riot and threw us a bone with past anthems “Little House of Savages,” “Thinking of a Dream I Had” and “The Rat.” Hamilton Leithauser’s got a bit of a boozed up croon himself, so you can’t blame the flavored-vodka fed hipster set for joining him, note for drunken note. The difference between the lit-up crowd and Hamilton, of course, is that Hamilton sounds great.
In interviews with Pitchfork and Spin, Ham spoke to a lighter, “groovier” sound, attributed to changing roles and band instrumentation. For each new song last night, with titles like “Lost In Boston” and “Emma Get Me A Lemon,” Walter Martin would escape his keyboard and don the bass, with Peter Bauer grabbing a shekere for some shaking. All the while, Hamilton did his part, center stage, belting Dylan-esque melodies with easy confidence. Enjoying every second of it. Sounds like A Hundred Miles Off is gonna make the mark.
Stream “Louisiana,” the lilting lead single from the album: QT | WMV
Some pics from last night’s party:
You Might Also Like
 Stream The Walkmen Heaven |  Premature Evaluation: The Walkmen Heaven |  The Walkmen – “The House You Made” |  The Walkmen – “We Can’t Be Beat” |
 |
 |
the philly show was just as amazing….
their new album will drop in godly fashion.
long live the walkmen.
please. please. i beg of you. find us some leaked tracks. i’ve grown tired of waiting.
i thought the sound last night was TERRIBLE. just mud. ugh.
Got the next best thing Matt. Enjoy the stream! It’s a good one.
Jim – agreed. The sound was horrendous everywhere but up front (and even then it required some maneuvering).
At last, a band that’s actually worthy of pre-release blogger hype. I bow to the Walkmen.
The new Church CD is really good too!
Yes.
agreed – the sound last night was atrocious
however, i heart the walkmen
the walkmen sure have beautiful guitars.
anyone else see resemblance in pic 2 to keanu reeves? anyone??
these dudes don’t know louisiana from linen sports coats, and for all the walkmen ain’t a dog and pony show talk, the track sounds pretty gimmicky to me (mariachi horns?!).
incidentally, as they’ve decided to bittersweetly exploit the sense of loss surrounding the south, i wonder how much of the proceeds are going to hurricane relief.
maybe that’s unfair. i dunno. if the song didn’t have mariachi horns i’d probably be more forgiving.
if you did any research, or even emailed the band for that matter, you’d discover that “Louisiana” was written before that shit even happened, and has absolutely nothing to do with a natural fucking disaster. sorry, nbomb.
yeah you on some gay shit, nbomb
fairly played, but i still think its a) a gimmicky song and b) in kind of awkwardly poor taste.
I saw Duke Spirit open for Ted Leo a couple of weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised enough to buy the disc afterwards. It’s been in solid rotation since.
Glad to hear they’re still hitting it live.
You actually enjoyed the Duke Spirit? I saw them open for Ted Leo at Univ. of Richmond and it was less than sub-par. Maybe because there was no booze at all…
By%20all%20means%20marry
10/6/06 saw the walkmen play last night at axis/boston. they rocked my socks off! im in love with the whole band! absolutely amazing. music great, cant wait to see em again sometime!