The Walkmen

The Walkmen
Name	The Walkmen
Background	group_or_band
Origin	New York City
Years active	2000–2013, 2023
Label	Record Collection, Startime International, City Slang, Gigantic Music
Associated acts	Jonathan Fire*Eater, The Recoys, Fleet Foxes, Arcade Fire

The Walkmen were an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000, noted for a brooding vocal style, vintage instrumentation, and literate songwriting. The group emerged from members of Jonathan Fire*Eater and The Recoys and built a profile through releases on Startime International and City Slang, extensive touring, and critical praise from outlets such as Pitchfork, NME, and Rolling Stone. Their work intersected scenes connected to Brooklyn, Greenwich Village, and the wider indie rock networks of the 2000s and early 2010s.

History

Formed by alumni of Jonathan Fire*Eater and The Recoys in Manhattan, the band recorded early singles that connected them to scenes around All Tomorrow's Parties and CMJ Music Marathon. Early gatherings at venues like The Mercury Lounge and Tonic led to a debut that followed DIY practices popularized by labels such as Sub Pop, Matador Records, and Domino Recording Company. Tours alongside Interpol, Modest Mouse, The National and festivals such as Coachella and Glastonbury Festival raised their profile. Line-up stability allowed studio albums to appear on labels including Startime International and Record Collection while members pursued side projects linked to artists like Fleet Foxes, The Antlers, and Arcade Fire.

Musical Style and Influences

Their sound blended elements drawn from recordings associated with Velvet Underground, The Strokes, and Television, merging organ textures evocative of The Doors with rhythm approaches related to The Zombies. Vocal delivery showed affinities to singers from The Smiths, Joy Division, and David Bowie eras, while arrangements referenced chamber-pop tendencies found in work by Scott Walker and Leonard Cohen. Production choices echoed approaches used by producers such as Steve Albini, Tony Visconti, and engineers linked to Abbey Road Studios, and recording techniques resembled those on albums from Sly and the Family Stone, Harold Budd, and Brian Eno. Their repertoire cited inspirations from American songwriting traditions represented by Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Patti Smith, and from British art-rock exemplars like Roxy Music and Peter Gabriel.

Discography

Studio albums and key releases included recordings that found audiences through independent distributors linked to Rough Trade Records, 4AD, and Merge Records. Notable records appeared in year-end lists alongside albums by Arcade Fire, Radiohead, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Singles and EPs circulated within the networks of KEXP (FM), BBC Radio 6 Music, and college stations such as WUOM and WKCR-FM. Compilation appearances connected them to benefit projects associated with (RED), Artists for Haiti, and collaborative tributes celebrating figures like Lou Reed and Tom Waits.

Band Members and Line-ups

Core personnel originated from scenes including artists who had worked with Mercury Rev musicians and had histories intersecting with The Strokes collaborators. Members contributed to session work alongside names like Cat Power, Neko Case, and Angel Olsen, and engaged in side projects tied to labels including Jagjaguwar and Kill Rock Stars. Touring line-ups occasionally featured instrumentalists who had performed with orchestras such as The London Symphony Orchestra and ensembles associated with New York Philharmonic veterans. Collaborations extended to songwriters linked to Elvis Costello, Richard Hawley, and PJ Harvey.

Live Performances and Tours

Their touring history included headline dates in venues from Bowery Ballroom and Radio City Music Hall to international festivals such as Primavera Sound and Sziget Festival. Support slots placed them on bills with My Morning Jacket, Spoon, and Wilco, and television appearances tied to programs like Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Later... with Jools Holland. Live arrangements sometimes featured string sections arranged in the manner of performances by Belle and Sebastian and Sufjan Stevens, and guest spots from artists affiliated with The Walkmen (note: do not link this)'s scene brought connections to St. Vincent and Sharon Van Etten.

Reception and Legacy

Critics at publications such as Pitchfork, NME, The Guardian, The New York Times, and Los Angeles Times debated their placement within the 2000s indie canon alongside peers like The Shins, Sufjan Stevens, and Iron & Wine. Accolades and placements on curated lists placed their records in conversations with works by PJ Harvey, Arcade Fire, and Wilco. Influence can be traced in later acts associated with Brooklyn indie communities and labels such as Domino Recording Company; artists citing them include musicians signed to 4AD, Matador Records, and Secretly Canadian. Reissues and anniversary shows were organized by distributors and promoters linked to Live Nation Entertainment, AEG Presents, and illustrated the band's continuing relevance in discussions around 21st-century independent music scenes.

Category:American indie rock groups