The Walkmen Appreciate New York Crowd Even More After European Tour

It was a bit of a homecoming for the Walkmen as they took the stage Thursday night at New York City's Terminal 5, and it was clear they wanted to put on a good show for the crowd. Recently returned from a tour in Europe, the Gotham-based rockers tore into their set with a sonic blowtorch. Wearing a brown jacket and white shirt, frontman Hamilton Leithauser grabbed the audience by the reins and never let go, his voice shooting like sparks into the air one moment, then sailing back home for a soft landing the next, every word backed up with precision and fury by the band. .

The Walkmen have been on the road a great deal the past several years, recently playing some rather interesting venues, including the Coliseu dos Recreios in Lisbon, Portugal. Naturally, the New York skyline is a welcome sight after being away for so long. Keyboardist Peter Bauer told Spinner that having a central base is important -- "Otherwise, you feel like a nomad or something." And, as one would expect, over the years, the city that never sleeps has been a great influence on their work. "We've been around [in New York] a long time." he explained. "When you're immersed in it for so long, you end up writing a different type of music." That fact is apparent on their most recently released album, 'Lisbon,' which made up a good chunk of the setlist at the evening's show. It's a fascinating pastiche of music from all over the world.

The '80s-style punk-pop of 'Woe Is Me' sits at the same table with the whimsical country-fair crooner 'While I Shovel the Snow.' The speedy adrenaline fun of 'Angela Surf City' saddles up to the galloping western serenade of 'Blue as Your Blood.' Throw in the Latin-flavored title track, and it's easy to see why the Walkmen defy being pegged into any one genre -- and they wouldn't have it any other way. "It's important to keep it fresh, to keep what you are fresh, to keep what you're playing fresh," Bauer said. "It helps a lot."

While long stretches on the road and traveling the world can become a seemingly endless loop at times, when it comes time to play, everything changes, thanks to the audience. "It's something you end up appreciating more now than when you were just a kid," Bauer said. "It's a good feeling."