DC ROCK CLUB
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

You & me & Hamilton Leithauser makes three

The Walkmen @ 9:30 Club - September 22, 2009 - $15

Hamilton Leithauser and I are pretty tight. See? Here we are hanging out after last night's show. Don't pay any attention to that sneer he's throwing my way while I'm not looking. That's just good ol' Ham. What kind of a name is Hamilton Leithauser, anyway? Sounds like a power tool company, or a place you'd go to buy a massive tractor or specialty aircraft.

Either way, this guy who used to cruise the hallways of DC's St. Alban's prep school, has graduated to front the NYC/Philly rock fivesome, The Walkmen. During the set I actually thought to myself that he appeared kinda tall. It's always hard to tell though. Everyone looks taller when they're on a stage, on TV, or when standing next to sacklunch. But now I know he's kinda tall, since I'm kinda tall, and here we are looking to be about the same height. This is fascinating stuff, huh?

Since we got to the venue a bit on the tardy-side, we missed any good banter that may have been offered at the outset. Stuff like, "It's great to be back in DC where I have $250 of unpaid parking tickets." You know, something only a former resident could say. Actually, there was a bit of banter I remember hearing toward the end of the show. Something about Mr. Leithauser losing the keys to their car. This was probably why he was still standing outside as Jimbromski and I left the club. Maybe we should have offered him a ride.

Mr. & Mrs. sacklunch had stopped by the rock clubhouse after Mrs. sacklunch's birthday dinner earlier in the evening. Lots of talk about the Lake Braddock High School reunion ensued, and before I knew it, Jimbromski and I were late to the show. I think we caught 4 songs before The Walkmen departed the stage for their pre-encore piss break. There was a nice crowd at the 9:30 club for a Wednesday, probably the perfect number of people. Crowded enough to show some love, but just enough space for easy access to the upstairs bar with room for a view down to the stage.

Here's a couple of clips from the show from our upstairs perch:



Jimbromski loves himself some Rat. Not to be confused with RATT (I don't know how he feels about them). But when it came around to the lyrics,
"When I used to go out I'd know everyone I saw
Now I go out alone if I go out at all,"
I thought I saw a tear in his eye. He's such a softy. Anyhow, The Walkmen put on a solid show (at least the 40 mins that we saw). The guy playing the triangle was especially good. Never seen it played with as much enthusiasm as that dude did. I don't know what you were doing last night, but if you were at the Nationals game instead of being at the 9:30 club, I think you suck.

5 comments:

Jimbromski said...

this was a good show, I do enjoy this band

i have to admit i did openly cry at a show once, it was my birthday, paul weller, irving plaza, playing that's entertainment. i wasn't weeping with snot and convulsions but there were some waterworks. and also last night, they watered, I love that song and that lyric in particular is poet laureate material for a guy who's turning 38 next month and just went to his 20th HS reunion.

so fuck you all, right in the eye

AndyfromDC said...

Yeah fuck Potsy, I was there and he didn't say hi. What a jerk off

-Andrew

Potsy said...

Are you skipping classes already? Stay in school, Andy.

Jumbo Slice said...

"The Rat" is one of the best songs of the past decade. Brilliant.

It's interesting how The Walkmen were huge then lost some popularity and went from playing the 9:30 Club to the Black Cat and then R&R Hotel. I assumed they'd continue their Mooney Suzuki* like decline but they defied the odds and are now more popular than ever. Good for them. I like those dudes. Any band that does a Harry Nilsson cover album is okay in my book.

*we're the Mooney Suzuki of DC music blogs.

Super Zoe said...

I assume the "that's entertainment" that made you cry isn't the one they use on Looney Tunes from Broadway?! But of course that's the only one I know.

This blog makes me feel like Grover from Kicking & Screaming who doesn't even know what Prague is famous for.