PITCHFORK: In an interview with The Washington Post, Peter Bauer said that after some shows next week, the Walkmen have no plans to continue. Though they note that they aren’t “officially breaking up,” Bauer said, “We have no future plans whatsoever. I’d call it a pretty extreme hiatus.” Later, he added, “It’s been almost 14 years now. I think that’s enough, you know?” Their final two shows for the foreseeable future are tomorrow at Union Market in Washington, DC and December 4 at Philadelphia’s Union Transfer. The future of the band, both as a recording and touring entity, is uncertain:
“We really just have no idea. I don’t think any of us wanted to write another Walkmen record. Maybe that will change down the line, maybe it won’t, maybe we’ll play shows. I think it’s weird to make a hubbub about something if there’s nothing to really make a hubbub about. At the same time, I don’t think we’ve been a gang properly for a long time, so there’s not much to break up, I guess.”
Three members of the band are currently working on solo LPs: Hamilton Leithauser (whose album is due in 2014 and features members of the Shins, Fleet Foxes, and Vampire Weekend), Walter Martin, and Bauer (Liberation!, which will be released under the name Peter Matthew Bauer). Bauer and Leithauser’s records both feature other members of the Walkmen. MORE
RELATED: No Other is the 1974 album by Gene Clark, a founding member of the the Byrds. At the time of its release, it was viewed as a critical and commercial failure, but over time, it’s become a cult favorite. Next month, that album will be celebrated on a brief tour where it’ll be performed note-for-note by a supergroup featuring Beach House, plus members of Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear, the Walkmen, and more. The band will include Beach House’s Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally. Lead vocal duties will be handled by Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold, Grizzly Bear’s Daniel Rossen, the Walkmen’s Hamilton Leithauser, Iain Matthews of Plainsong/Fairport Convention, and Legrand. The rest of the band features Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner, plus members of Lower Dens, Cass McCombs’ band, Celebration, and Mt. Royal. MORE
THE GENE CLARK — NO OTHER TOUR STOPS AT UNION TRANSFER JAN. 22nd