The Walkmen @ Union Transfer.

Text and images by Grace Dickinson.

“Too much spaghetti,” said Hamilton Leithauser, the lead singer of The Walkmen. “Ooph.”

After powering his way through 90 minutes of zealously delivered vocals, Leithauser’s raspy voice started to fade out at the peak of each crescendo. As he claimed, it must’ve been a result of that pasta pre-party he jokingly referenced throughout the night. (To make up for cancelling a show at the Electric Factory last October, the band served up spaghetti and meatballs to fans earlier in the night.)

With six albums under their belt, an issue that didn’t arise for The Walkmen was any lack of material. Despite Leithauser’s slight vocal strain, the five-member group didn’t hesitate to keep playing as they approached a two-hour set, closing out the night with a four-song encore.

Heaven, The Walkmen’s latest album, was released in April of last year. It came at the ten-year marker after making their debut with Everybody Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone, an album that immediately put them on the map.

A decade later, Leithauser proclaimed that he feels the band has finally reached a sense of comfort and maturity together. The experience they’ve built shows both in terms of musical depth and performance, and cleary comes through in Leithauser’s confident presence up on stage. Passionately gripping the mic in one hand, twirling the cord with the other, he maintained a suave aura consistent with his jet black suit and matching shoes. As he stared directly into the crowd, it was obvious Leithauser wasn’t new to the stage.

The other band members also held a youthful spirit, with drummer Matt Barrick rocking his head up and down nearly the entire duration of the set. The group (as well as the audience) became even more animated once five other brass musicians joined them up on stage. The four trumpets and trombone transformed The Walkmen’s show into a multi-layered indie rock symphony. At times, Pete Bauer’s piano jams led the show towards jazzy stints, though pure instrumental jams were rare.

Loading up on liquids, and perhaps taking it easy on the pasta might be a good idea for Leithauser as The Walkmen gear up to tour with Father John Misty. They will be playing nearly everyday of this month with shows spanning across the states and up into Canada.