The Walkmen: Official Site

2012-01-24T11:44:00.002-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came to our wild anniversary party shows in San Francisco and Chicago. They were big nights for us and we appreciate all the support. Since they went so well we're adding a couple more.

Toronto 3/2 and Philly 3/3. Tickets go on sale this Friday 1/27. Invitation/info here.

2011-11-07T09:44:00.000-05:00

To celebrate our 10th anniversary we're doing a few special performances in January and releasing our first record Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone on 180 gram vinyl. It was actually never properly released on vinyl back then so we are excited to finally have some of these. Go here to get all the info.

2011-11-03T11:53:00.001-04:00

We figured out how to do Spotify playlists and we're sending along some of our recent favorite songs and some weird music that we've been listening to while we've been writing.

Click on the radio below to check it out. Enjoy.

2011-10-28T10:02:00.000-04:00

More shots of our September tour with Fleet Foxes

2011-10-27T10:22:00.000-04:00

2011-10-24T12:35:00.000-04:00

Our pal Skye "Edward Steichen" Skjelset from Fleet Foxes took a bunch of photos of us during our tour with those guys last month. Click the photo below to see more. Thanks Skye.

2011-10-14T13:03:00.001-04:00

Our friend Mac St. Michael up in Maine has released his full length album that he recorded with the help of sonic wizard Nick Stumpf and Walkmen lifer Walter Martin. The album is called Admiral of the State of Maine and the songs are all true life tales of life in New England. Some of the topics covered are: strange older friends, alcohol, lobsters, Concord NH, guns, women's clothing, romance, car accidents and lots more. Mac is a great songwriter and a great storyteller and the album is a gem.

Below are a couple of the hits: "How Do My Lovely" a quick one about watching your girlfriend pick out her clothes in the morning and "Highliner" a seven minute meditation on Maine lobstermen and a damn masterpiece. Check out the rest of the album here.

How Do My Lovely - by Mac St Michael by TheWalkmen
Highliner - by Mac St. Michael by TheWalkmen

2011-10-09T19:19:00.000-04:00

More pictures of our September tour to come soon...

2011-10-02T01:57:00.001-04:00

Sadly tonight was the last show of our fantastic tour with Fleet Foxes. They are a great band and a really great gang to travel around with. So a special thanks to them and their whole team for being so nice and so generous and for making such incredibly good music. You guys absolutely do it right...for a bunch of longhairs. We'll see you fellas soon.

2011-09-30T02:05:00.002-04:00

2011-09-09T10:22:00.002-04:00

We went to Seattle's always great and always supportive KEXP on Tuesday planning to do some songs from our 'Lisbon' record but just before we started the session we realized we'd already done most of them on KEXP last year so we threw together a few songs we think of as Johnny Cash songs (since we learned them from his versions). We also whipped up a similarly styled version of The Auld Triangle (which we learned from the Pogues). Check down below Johnny to hear the session. Thanks for humoring us KEXP.

<a href="http://soundowl.com/track/1nu8/the-walkmen-the-auld-triangle">Download The Walkmen The Auld Triangle</a>
<a href="http://soundowl.com/track/1nu9/the-walkmen-darlin-companion">Download The Walkmen Darlin Companion</a>
<a href="http://soundowl.com/track/1nua/the-walkmen-wanted-man">Download The Walkmen Wanted Man</a>
<a href="http://soundowl.com/track/1nu7/the-walkmen-mr-lonesome">Download The Walkmen Mr. Lonesome</a>

2011-08-23T10:06:00.001-04:00

Sad to say that one of the great Rock n Roll men of all time, Jerry Leiber, died yesterday. Throughout the 50's, 60's and 70's he and his partner Mike Stoller wrote and produced some of the best songs in the world. That's him below with the Coasters in the late 50's. He's the one at the piano closest to us. Below we've selected from their jaw-dropping catalog a handful of Leiber/Stoller songs that we hold particularly close to our hearts. Unfortunately "Teach Me How to Shimmy" by the Isley Brothers isn't on Youtube.

"Hound Dog" Big Mama Thorton 1953

"I'm a Woman" Maria Muldaur 1974

"Three Cool Cats" The Coasters 1958

"Saved" Lavern Baker 1960

"Don't" Elvis Presley 1957

"Yes" Ben E King 1962

"Jackson" Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood 1967

"Iko Iko" Dixie Cups 1965

"Is That All There Is?" Peggy Lee 1969

2011-08-16T15:22:00.000-04:00

On the 34th anniversary of his death, here's to Elvis.

2011-07-18T18:18:00.002-04:00

we had a damn blast in Bilbao, Lisbon and at the Latitude Festival in the UK. Thanks to everyone who came and cheered.

Special thanks to the cool dudes in Arcade Fire for being so nice.

and also a big thanks to the people in Lisbon who are so supportive of us. We really really appreciate it.

see ya soon

2011-07-08T08:51:00.002-04:00

2011-07-02T20:15:00.000-04:00

We arrived to a very rainy Copenhagen today--and some real flooding. The inaccessible building on the right is our (closed) hotel. Crap. But we're excited to be playing the Roskilde Festival tomorrow. And it's supposed to be sunny. Hope to see you there.

2011-06-24T21:14:00.004-04:00

Looking forward to a big day at the Glastonbury Festival tomorrow. Hope to see you there.

2011-06-19T03:14:00.001-04:00

2011-06-16T10:52:00.000-04:00

Here's a cool picture Paul's dad took in Istanbul about 50 years ago. Below it is a far less beautiful one from our walk across the same bridge about a month ago. More pictures of our recent European travels coming soon. See ya.

2011-06-13T14:30:00.000-04:00

"Crossing the Ohio River" from The Bikeriders by Danny Lyon --1966.

2011-06-07T09:31:00.000-04:00

Backstage at Primavera we were given 60 seconds to do whatever we wanted for Pitchfork TV. Click on the still below to see the results.

2011-06-01T09:02:00.002-04:00

Some old dancehall to help get through the heat wave.

2011-05-25T20:57:00.000-04:00

Very happy to be back in Barcelona for the Primavera Festival

2011-05-16T11:53:00.001-04:00

Heading to Istanbul for the first time today.

2011-05-13T17:51:00.000-04:00

We are very very pleased to announce that we are going to play at the Museo Guggenheim in Bilbao Spain with Arcade Fire on July 13th. Sounds pretty damn great.

We are also playing a Q magazine party in London on June 22. If you're in London, get info here . Stop by and get loaded.

2011-05-09T10:27:00.001-04:00

Our friends Coke Weed up in Bar Harbor Maine have finally released their first full length and, as we had predicted, it's fantastic. You can download the whole record for free on their website. For a good time, check out "The Frizz" and "Not My Old Man" below.

"The Frizz" by Coke Weed (from Coke Weed Volume 1) by TheWalkmen
"Not My Old Man" by Coke Weed. (from Coke Weed Volume 1) by TheWalkmen

2011-05-03T10:48:00.001-04:00

We're excited to announce that we're playing the Hop Farm Festival in Kent, UK on July 1st.
Get info and tickets here

2011-04-29T00:34:00.002-04:00

2011-04-14T09:12:00.000-04:00

We're thrilled to announce we're playing the Roskilde Festival in Denmark on July 3rd.
Click on the naked Danes below for all the pertinent information.

2011-04-06T11:39:00.001-04:00

The glorious Fugs for this morning.

2011-04-01T18:02:00.002-04:00

Los Angeles, Tomorrow night PBS will be airing our Sun Studio Sessions on KLCS at 8:30pm just before Austin City Limits.

We play Canadian Girl, I Lost You and a couple other tunes in the coolest studio going. Check out the schedule here

It will also be aired on KOCE's "OC Channel" multiple times next week, with both the Sunday and Wed night airings coupled with the Artists' Den. You can check that schedule here:

2011-03-30T09:53:00.001-04:00

Tom Waits' contribution to Ramones Week: 'Danny Says'

2011-03-29T10:52:00.000-04:00

Another Ramones Week clip: the softer side.

2011-03-28T10:55:00.001-04:00

Celebrating Ramones Week with '53rd & 3rd'.

2011-03-26T22:37:00.003-04:00

cool photos by James Cooper

2011-03-23T10:00:00.004-04:00

2011-03-14T12:24:00.002-04:00

Here's one for all you spring-breakers down in Florida. The dark side of the Sunshine State: Dale Hawkins "Everglades"

2011-03-08T12:34:00.002-05:00

Photo by Pete Turner: Texascape, 1968. Thanks all you Texans for a great time last week. Click on the photo to see Texas's grooviest band (who oddly use all of the exact same instruments we do)

2011-03-06T22:52:00.000-05:00

We had a ball in Texas and Louisiana. Thanks to all the folks who came out and cheered us on. Hope you liked our spray-paint t-shirts. See see more shots Matt took of our adventures here

2011-03-01T19:24:00.001-05:00

We're on the road again tomorrow. See you around!
3/2: One Eyed Jacks, New Orleans
3/3: Fitzgeralds, Houston, TX
3/4: Stubbs Bar-B-Que, Austin, TX
3/5: Granada Theater, Dallas, TX

2011-02-26T00:24:00.001-05:00

We released 2 videos today. 'Orange Sunday' by Bruno Levy & 'While I Shovel the Snow' by Jake Davis.

Watch the videos and get a free download of both songs. Thanks Bruno and Jake.

2011-02-24T18:50:00.000-05:00

Watch our friends Weird War teach elementary school kids about Rock 'n' Roll.

2011-02-21T13:35:00.005-05:00

Watch our Rockfeedback Session we did in London last month. Thanks to the guys who made this. It looks and sounds great.

1. Woe is Me

2. While I Shovel the Snow

3. Agoraphobia (Deerhunter)

4. 138th Street

(here are a couple of 'em)

The Walkmen - Woe Is Me - RFB Session from Bella Union on Vimeo.

The Walkmen - Agrophobia (Deerhunter) - RFB Session from Bella Union on Vimeo.

2011-02-15T15:54:00.002-05:00

We're thrilled to announce that we're playing Bonnaroo this year, June 9-12 in Manchester TN. We play the night of the 9th. Click on Neil and the boys below to get info and tickets.

with Buffalo Springfield, Deerhunter, Arcade Fire, Dr. John, The Strokes, Beirut...and lots more.

Holy crap, Buffalo Springfield is playing.

2011-02-15T12:17:00.002-05:00

Gorilla vs. Bear presents: The Walkmen. March 5, Grenada Theater, Dallas, TX

2011-02-14T11:42:00.006-05:00

Happy Valentines Day. For all you lovebirds out there here's a romantic tune by Clara Rockmore, queen of the theremin. And for all of you hate-filled loners we've also included a song called "It's a Burning Hell" by Swedish art-rockers The Brainbombs. Take your pick, but happy Valentines Day either way.

Clara Rockmore,The Swan by TheWalkmen

Brainbombs, It's a Burning Hell by TheWalkmen

2011-02-11T16:15:00.001-05:00

Thanks for letting us try to entertain you on a cold Friday. Without further ado, we present our heros The Cramps in their prime. Ladies and gentlemen, 'the best clip on the **cking interrrnet'

2011-02-09T13:23:00.004-05:00

Thanks Francisco. Same to you.

2011-02-08T11:31:00.000-05:00

Painting by Kai Althoff

2011-02-08T10:12:00.005-05:00

Photographer Billy Pavone just unearthed nice pictures from our show at the Museum of Modern Art months and months ago. See more in the Photographs section. Thanks Billy.

2011-02-07T11:58:00.003-05:00

Watch this cool and slightly scary cover version and video for our innocent little song "While I Shovel the Snow" performed and directed by a mysterious stranger named William Curt. Thanks William.

2011-02-01T15:27:00.007-05:00

We've added a bunch of tour dates to our spring schedule following our dash through Texas/Louisiana in early March. New shows include a cool co-bill run with The New Pornographers which goes on sale soonish and our first trip to Turkey which starts off a handful of Euro shows. See it all spelled out in glorious grey below. Clink on the listing to get tickets. See ya around.

April, 2011
4/22: The Vogue w/ The New Pornographers , Indianapolis, IN (ON SALE 2/4)
4/23: House of Blues w/ The New Pornographers , Cleveland, OH (ON SALE 2/11)
4/25: Town Ballroom w/ The New Pornographers , Buffalo, NY (ON SALE 2/4)
4/26: Bogarts w/ The New Pornographers , Cincinnati, OH (ON SALE 2/11)
4/28: Canopy Club w/ The New Pornographers , Urbana, IL (ON SALE 2/4)
4/29: Blue Note w/ The New Pornographers , Columbia, MO (ON SALE 2/4)

May, 2011
5/18: Babylon Club, Istanbul, Turkey
5/20: Alhambra, Paris, France
5/22: Cirque Royal, Brussels, Belgium
5/23: Vera, Groningen, Holland
5/24: Melkweg, Amsterdam, Holland
5/26: Primavera Festival, Barcelona, Spain
5/29: Mascotte, Zurich, Switzerland

2011-01-30T21:07:00.000-05:00

Apparently Chuck is feeling better after his health scare earlier in the month. Watch this great backstage tune w/ Johnnie Johnson.

2011-01-28T16:18:00.000-05:00

Cass McCombs announced the release of his upcoming record called Wit's End here. It's coming out April 12th. We're really looking forward to it. His last 2 records were masterpieces.

2011-01-27T17:44:00.003-05:00

Usually we wouldn't push press into anyone's face, but since it has taken us 10 years to get a kind word written about us in London, we're taking this opportunity to flaunt it. Read a nice review of Tuesday's Shepherd's Bush Empire show in the Independent here . And there's a nice one in the Evening Standard too. They seem to appreciate that we obsess over the music but they make fun of the fact that we don't dance and we're still too cheap to hire a lighting guy.
We had a really great time over in the UK this month. Thanks to everyone who came out and cheered for us.

2011-01-26T09:22:00.005-05:00

Manchester's Central Methodist Church last week

2011-01-25T15:12:00.003-05:00

We found this strange medallion inside our old European touring piano this afternoon as we miked it up at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London. We are having trouble decoding the insignia on its face. What does this mean? As always, we fear the worst.

2011-01-23T21:17:00.010-05:00

Photograph taken by Magnus Aske Blikeng at Manchester's Central Methodist Church on Thursday.

You can see many more cool photo's here. Thanks Magnus.

2011-01-16T13:59:00.004-05:00

There's a nice feature on us in the Guardian this week. Check it out here

And here's a cool shot Matt took last time we were in London. We're excited to be heading back over there tomorrow.

2011-01-15T18:59:00.008-05:00

Big Saturday night in Nashville

2011-01-14T01:17:00.007-05:00

This is to a fella named Ant who gave us a long letter before the show last night in Chapel Hill requesting that we play "Don't Forget Me," the Nilsson song from our Pussycats record. He says that this girl named Abby, who he really likes, really loves that record and he wanted us to play it in her honor. Well Ant, we didn't open the letter until this morning and we felt really bad. Ant, you must have though we were a bunch of heartless jerks last night when we didn't play it--and I bet Abby wasn't too impressed either. Sorry. We would have done your request in a second if we'd gotten it in time--we'd do almost anything for someone who admits to liking our Pussycats record. Anyway, your letter was nice and we'll play Don't Forget Me next time we come through. Thanks for the drawing too. Please accept, as an apology, this clip of Harry Nilsson and Ringo Starr doing the Platters classic,"Only You." I hope you and Abby can enjoy it together if she's still speaking to you.

2011-01-13T10:12:00.003-05:00

Next stop Atlanta. Home of the grooviest people on earth.

2011-01-13T00:24:00.002-05:00

Watch this kid play the Rat.

2011-01-12T09:33:00.000-05:00

Heading to Nina Simone's snowy home state today. Love this song.

2011-01-11T09:47:00.001-05:00

More great Lower Dens. We'll see them tomorrow down in the snowy southeast.

2011-01-10T17:30:00.000-05:00

We're real excited to play these upcoming shows with The Lower Dens. Check out this hot jam.

2011-01-07T09:48:00.000-05:00

Had a blast with Dave and the gang last night. Check it out.

2011-01-07T00:42:00.001-05:00

Thanks for having us Dave.

2011-01-04T17:41:00.002-05:00

Great English actor Pete Postlethwaite died yesterday. Watch him here with Daniel Day Lewis in the film that got us all hooked on him.

2011-01-04T12:35:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! We are excited to start off 2011 with an appearance on David Letterman this coming Thursday, January 6th -- with Seth Rogen too.

Also our 2009 Sun Studios performance will be airing on PBS today, January 4th. Please check your local listings for times.

2011-01-02T21:25:00.001-05:00

cool shot we found of the fabulous Chris Zane

2010-12-30T11:49:00.002-05:00

Here's a Frat Rock playlist hand-picked from our 45's for your New Years Eve blow-out.

Happy New Year!! DownloadFratRockPartyMegaMixforNewYears

2010-12-26T09:50:00.001-05:00

Photograph by Italian photographer, Luigi Ghirri. We used 2 of his pictures for the cover of Lisbon. He was apparently a big music enthusiast and when we asked for permission to use his pictures, his wife was very gracious and said we could use whatever we wanted. Check out his book called It's Beautiful Here, Isn't It...

2010-12-21T11:07:00.002-05:00

photo by Yusuf Sevincli

2010-12-21T10:20:00.001-05:00

Hi, in case you missed the first part of our Holiday MegaMix, here it is. Happy Holidays: Download Holiday Megamix1

2010-12-20T16:15:00.000-05:00

Here's part 2 of our Holiday Megamix Series. Happy Holidays!!!! Download MegaMix2

2010-12-15T20:41:00.002-05:00

Brighton, UK

2010-12-15T19:44:00.002-05:00

Welcome to our new home base. To get the ball rolling, below we posted a few pictures of our soundman/muse, Chris Colbert. There are a lot more pic's in the photographs section and a lot of videos we love in the videos section. Much more to come. Thanks for stopping by. love, The Walkmen.

2010-12-14T10:09:00.018-05:00

2010-12-14T10:08:00.009-05:00

“Pepperjack” Colbert, loses his per diem at a small, smoky roadside casino somewhere in Iowa.

2010-12-14T10:05:00.011-05:00

This photo was taken through a hole in the back of a barn somewhere in Iowa, where we played at one of Daytrotter‘s Barnstormer shows on the Fourth of July. It was a real hootenanny. That’s the backside of Justin Townes Earle and his shredding fiddle player.