The Walkmen — In the New Year

If you’re playing the home game, ought-nine has brought some pretty nasty tidings to my neck of the [emotional?] woods. There have been break-ups (okay, one, but it was pretty tragically epic), depressions, and existential crises-a-plenty. If the past year has taught me anything, it’s the realization that there’s no getting off this roller coaster. You’re so on it, kid, I tell myself.   Sometimes? I’m going to bottom out. And it’s going to hurt. But lately, I’ve heard that click-click-click of the cars creeping up the track. When everything is right, and I’m surrounded by the people I need in my life, and I’m where I’m meant to be,  doing what I’m destined to do.

The day I took these pictures was one of those days. Click click click.

My roommate is full of win, and through her I’ve gotten friendly with the guys over at My Old Kentucky Blog/Laundromatinee. I crashed their tent at Monolith and they were kind enough to let me get my camera geek on. The afternoon of day one, The Walkmen came for a session.

(Seconds before this, he had accidentally dropped his triangle. It was kind of priceless and adorable. And you know how I am about handheld percussion.)

Check out the session over at MOKB.

Day One was rainy and cold and gross. I would have been miserable if I wasn’t nearly peeing my pants with excitement all day.  Soon after the Laundro session, the boys headed out to the Southern Comfort stage. I’m apt to say “boys” when talking about guys in a band, but The Walkmen are totally men.  Full-grown men. You can hear the maturity in the music. Seasoned. Experienced. If the Walkmen were a wine, they’d totally be a full-bodied cabernet.  Oaky and sophisticated, but not one of those fancy numbers that you let gather dust in your cellar. [Wait, what? Don't let me write about music. Ever.]

(This guy was too fast for my camera.)

PS This flickr set can be found here.

If you live in or near Indianapolis? Lucky us. The Walkmen will be playing The Vogue tonight. More information on THIS AWESOME POSTER THAT MY FRIEND URIAHA FOUST MADE.