The Walkmen's blend of garage rock with classic rock smooth jams has earned it a well respected spot in the indie rock universe.,”The fall and winter of 2007 was an assiduous time for the members of the vintage rock indie group, the Walkmen. The group prepared for a winter tour, which includes a stop at the Turner Hall Ballroom, 1034 N. 4th St., on Jan. 18, and simultaneously found time to record the majority of the tracks for its upcoming album.
Lead singer Hamilton Leithauser and the other members of the Walkmen have been in the studio the last few months working on the follow-up to its 2006 cover album of Pussy Cats; originally an album by Harry Nilsson and John Lennon.
The Walkmen's blend of garage rock with classic rock smooth jams has earned it a well respected spot in the indie rock universe. The band's signature sound, along with Leithauser's raspy delivery, is something the band wants to build on and not depart from on their next musical endeavor.
Leithauser described the Walkmen's upcoming album best as possessing the swagger and grand epic of the music of Roy Orbison.
"We have eight tracks done right now and all of them are full of big production with strings and horns and a big 'Awwwww!' ending like an Orbison ballad," Leithauser said. "All of the songs we've finished recording for this new album are much bigger sounding than our stuff from A Hundred Miles Off or Bows + Arrows."
As 2008 rolled around, so did the progress toward completing the Walkmen's new album.
"The new album we are in the throat of is three-fourths done," Leithauser said. "We'll be finished recording in January and the album [yet to be titled] will hopefully have an April release."
With recording for the new Walkmen album rapping up, Leithauser said he and the rest of the band are looking forward to its Midwest tour.
"We're really excited for this tour because we have some new material to play for everyone," Leithauser said. "It's a feeling like we had in the beginning of being a band. We have something great to play and we want everyone to hear it."
Previous shows in Milwaukee by the Walkmen have all been at the small capacity and intimate setting of the Cactus Club, 2496 S. Wentworth Ave. Leithauser said he's excited but somewhat overwhelmed by playing the much larger and historic Turner Hall Ballroom.
"I enjoy the old venues, but the capacity's a little big for us," Leithauser said. "Old theaters are better than night club after night club but sometimes they are a little big and our sound is bouncing all over the place."
Leithauser said he didn't view Milwaukee as having much of a music scene, but was grateful of the airplay the Walkmen have gotten.
"Everyone's always supportive like the radio station there, 91.7 WMSE," Leithauser said. "Oh, and Atomic Records (1813 E. Locust St.) is a cool place and always a regular stop for me when I'm in the city."
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