ARTICLE BY CHERYL CHENG
PHOTOS BY LESLIE KALOHI
MAY 6 | HOLLYWOOD—After announcing last year that The Walkmen were going on an extreme hiatus, shortly thereafter, frontman Hamilton Leithauser shared his plans for a solo album, entitled Black Hours. Following the release of Walkmen's excellent Heaven, fans were sad about the hiatus, but also interested in what Hamilton's solo effort might sound like. Tonight's show satisfied this curiosity, as Hamilton performed his new album in its entirety.
For Walkmen faithful, the songs don't drastically differ from the band's sound—there are still guitars and a drum kit, led by Hamilton's powerful singing. However, there's also the addition of a string section, and on stage with the band were three violists and two upright bass players to round out the sound. Upon listening to Black Hours live, I began to understand why Hamilton wanted to venture forth with this solo project: These songs explore musical avenues that incorporate a more classical sound. In an interview with Metro, he explains: "I didn't want to just play rock 'n' roll, and I thought I wanted to do all these very heavily influenced by Frank Sinatra strings and big band music."
Take, for example, "Self Pity" ("Go ahead and wallow in it," Hamilton joked), which begins with a violin intro before incorporating the rest of the band. "5 AM" also showcases the string section; it's a spare, moody number that features the intriguing contrast of the trembling strings and Hamilton's howling vocals. But not all of the songs are that much of a departure. One of the first singles to be released, "11 O'Clock Friday Night" definitely sounds more Walkmen-like, and the repeating refrain "you, me, and everybody else" had me thinking of the band's album You & Me.
As for the live band, it is somewhat of a family affair. Hamilton's wife, Anna Stumpf, accompanies him on vocals and plays the piano, while his brother-in-law, Nick Stumpf of French Kicks, is on drums. Hamilton dedicated "I'll Never Love Again" to Anna, whose vocals on this song were unfortunately drowned out by the loud drums and guitar. This was a missed opportunity to feature another new feature of Hamilton's latest project: female vocals.
For those hoping Hamilton would sing a few Walkmen songs (admittedly, I was hoping he would), he did not. "I think that would be arrogant to claim that as mine. That would be like 'I'm the Walkmen carrying on,' and that is not the case," he explained. Along for the ride is Walkmen's immensely talented guitarist Paul Maroon, who assumes his role with ease.
Hamilton's two shows at Hotel Cafe were a perfect preview of the new album, which won't be released until June 3. And despite not knowing the songs beforehand, tonight's show was an absolute delight. The new songs prominently feature Hamilton's impressive vocals, and the variety of arrangements among the nine-piece band really showcased the frontman's creative spirit. I'm already looking forward to the next solo tour. To listen to Black Hours in its entirety, check out Hamilton's performance at Joe's Pub in New York.
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