The Walkmen/White Rabbits @ The Ottobar (Baltimore, MD), 1/24/08
Posted by Val in Concert Reviews 
Generally, I don’t even bother reviewing shows that don’t do it for me, but when a band lets me down more than once, I feel the need to speak up. I will give The Walkmen a pass on last year’s show in Athens, GA (and yes, this picture is actually from that show) which was probably the most disappointing of the year. The UGA crowd either didn’t get the memo that the band was in town and the few that didn’t show up just didn’t seem to care. Furthermore, singer Hamilton Leithauser had just been arrested in Austin during SXSW so when they threw in the towel, it was at least understandable. I’m wondering what Thursday night’s excuse was.
I expect that a flood of you are thinking right now, “What is WRONG with you, Val?! The Walkmen are a great live band!” My beef isn’t with their chops. Leithauser is a very intense performer and commands attention by virtue of both his stature and that aforementioned intensity. Also, drummer Matt Barrick fulfills the energetic little guy role and is both amazingly talented and fun to watch. Plus, ya know, I generally like their music. Thus, they’ve got all the right ingredients for a great show and apparently put on a great show in Philly the night before.
Perhaps that’s why they decided to end their Baltimore stint thirty minutes early. And I could be wrong here…but I really don’t think that they went on early.
See, the thing about the Ottobar is that they had the set times (beginning and ending) for each of the three bands posted at the doorway. So while conversing with Dave Sheinkopf of first opener The Subjects (who sounds like an odd mixture of Band of Horses‘ Ben Bridwell and Neutral Milk Hotel’s Jeff Mangum) and doing an early close of my bar tab I was shocked to hear the words “This will be our last song” come out of Leithauser’s mouth. Already? Sheinkopf attributed my surprise to The Walkmen’s ability to make time fly. That suspension of the space/time continuum might’ve been valid had I not, at that moment, checked my watch. Sheinkopf himself had said that The Walkmen looked worn out after the previous night’s jaunt in Philly. Plus, I’m not one to give a band hell for not playing “that single,” it’s not like they have a dearth of material from which to choose to have filled up that time. So no, they didn’t play “The Rat” (apparently they hate getting asked to play that) and they had any number of great songs that they could’ve pulled out and chose not to.
I will say thank you for putting “What’s In It For Me” and “Little House of Savages” on the setlist. I will also say that this band is getting one final shot. I’ll be seeing them at the EARL in Atlanta in March with Vampire Weekend and I hope that there’s no odd impediment to all-out rocking at that show because I’m only but so generous.
Lest this sound like a total bitchfest, I will also say anyone who has the opportunity to see White Rabbits live should do so. Fort Nightly was the one album from 2007 that I wish I could retroactively add to my “Best of” list and their live show delivers the dramatic spirit that made Fort Nightly my new crack.
Singer/pianist Stephen Patterson turned red in the face from the fervor from which he sang/shouted into the microphone while hitting the keys at lightning fast speed. The band always had at least two people on the drums at all times and during a new song called “Sea of Rum” they actually had four people doing percussion. I have to say when I think an unreleased song lives up to the songs where I know all the words, I am impressed. I also feel a sort of satisfaction at seeing a band that I like win over people who didn’t come to see that band. Although I was disappointed that they omitted “Dinner Party,” for their final song they actually tacked on “I Used to Complain Now I Don’t” to the end of their Bob Dylan cover. I know that White Rabbits will be back in the area around April or May but luck willing, I’ll be able to catch them sooner!
Little House of Savages – The Walkmen
While We Go Dancing – White Rabbits
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i saw white rabbits (and the virgins) open for tokyo police club a few months back. white rabbits made tokyo police club look awful. i’ll second that notion that people should see them live.
Thanks for spreading the love about white rabbits. I saw them a couple weeks ago and half of them were sick, but they still rocked. The Walkmen were just decent.
My brother gave a similarly rather damning report of seeing The Walkmen live a couple of years back. What a shame. I’d imagine their more raucous numbers to be ear-splittingly fantastic live, if they got into the swing of things.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who was thinking it. I couldn’t agree with you more about both the Walkmen being incredibly underwhelming and White Rabbits absolutely destroying it on stage. I saw the Walkmen at the Ottobar the last time they were in town (with Ferraby Lionheart and the wonderful Broken West) and they put on quite a show. Lots of older songs, some of the better tracks off “Hundred Miles” and just a solid, all-around show.
This most recent show was a bit below “just okay.” They appeared worn out, and rightfully as it was the last night of the tour, but usually bands will suck it up and go out with a bang on their last night . Rather, they chose to go out with a whimper. Leithauser was disinterested in his delivery and gave the appearance of nonchalance to the crowd. That was reciprocated and the mutual indifference in the room most likely helped precipitate their early departure from the stage.
I still think the Walkmen are one of the best, most unique bands in the business today. Their sound remains fresh, their lyrics clever and they are just plain good. However, if they were playing in Baltimore on the same night as, say, White Rabbits, I would probably be rather conflicted as to which show to see.