Walkmen Were Big During the Cold War, Kid...

A recent post from The Walkmen's tour diary - by far one of the strangest entries I've read in quite some time:

Our drive across the United States has been swift and eventful. We inner-tubed in Welch, Minnesota; saw a live moose outside of Boise, Idaho; and stopped in for surf and turf at Mike's uncle Michael's--where we petted his horses and dogs, and Matt's biscuits were burned when he backed into an electric fence.  In Chicago, Pete may or may not have broken Matt's rib after Matt sprayed him with the window-cleaning fliud from the van, and Paul may or may not have rebroken his arm while we lost 42-35 to Mazarin in two-hand-touch football.  Ham may or may not have had his first migraine headache in Milwaukee after Walt explained that he may or may not have left his guitar in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn, downtown Chicago. Luckily, it all worked out. 4 out of 5 of us  lost $60 in 5 minutes at the Wild Horse casino somewhere in Oregon, and Ham shaved Chris "Pepper Jack" Colbert's head in the middle seat of the van somewhere in Nebraska.

Time to come forward and admit that I have yet to hear anything from the new album. They'll be coming around Boston at the end of the month with Radio 4, and will probably draw in a rather large crowd.


Obviously waiting for 360 w/ Anderson Cooper...

I have difficulties, at times, understanding what it is that keeps The Walkmen afloat. I'd recently seen them play at MacRock in early April, and their drummer was so noticeably off from the rest of the band that it made it painful to watch. On the other hand, however, the first live performance I'd ever happened across was a basement show at CBGB's during the CMJ Marathon of 2002. There were about twenty of us, boxes of free pizza, and the only thing that really stood between myself and vocalist Hamilton Leithauser was, well, personal space? It was a fantastic set.

But to end with a swooping sidenote: it seems that Cold War Kids are being grouped alongside the likes of The Walkmen. Though the latter have much more popularity, I can't help but feel that it's solely due to seniority and longevity. In most facets, CWK is a better band, both in the studio and live.

There's something undeniable, though, about that signature sing 'n sway that Hamilton does with the microphone. Eyes squeezed shut, arms extended and lowered in a semi-martyr pose craning his neck up to belt out against the melodies.

Or perhaps it's those suit jackets with the elbow pads...

See for yo' damn self - The Walkmen run 'round the country:
6/10/06  Vancouver, BC  Richard's on Richards       
6/12/06  San Francisco, CA  Great American Music Hall        
6/13/06  San Francisco, CA  Great American Music Hall        
6/14/06  Pomona, CA  Glass House       
6/15/06  Los Angeles, CA  El Rey Theatre       
6/16/06  San Diego, CA  House of Blues       
6/17/06  Tempe, AZ  Clubhouse        
6/19/06  Austin, TX  La Zona Rosa        
6/20/06  Houston, TX  Numbers        
6/21/06  Dallas, TX  Granada Theater        
6/23/06  Nashville, TN  Exit/In        
6/24/06  Louisville, KY  Headliners Music Hall       
6/27/06  Toronto, ON  Phoenix Concert Theatre
6/28/06  Montreal, QC  La Tulipe
6/29/06  Boston, MA  Avalon Ballroom       
6/30/06  Brooklyn, NY  Warsaw