The Walkmen & The Flaws, live at Tripod

New York City-based indie rockers The Walkmen brought their chugging freight train of a live show to Dublin last night, entertaining a hard-to-please crowd at Tripod with a collection of songs that grew in energy as the night went on.

Whether the audience was overcome with indifference or they were universally reluctant to make the first move, there was an unusual blight of wall-hugging happening during the opening band, Monaghan-based rock group The Flaws. Regardless, the band put out a powerful set, with their indie-British-rock sound pushed forward by the might of drummer Colin Berrill and the multi-faceted voice of Paul Finn. Tracks off debut album Achieving Vagueness like ‘Out Tonight,’ with its big, anthemic chorus and ‘Sixteen’ with its off-beat opening riff and tightly-crafted interplay were mixed in with songs from their most recent release Constant Adventure, including set-closer ‘In Libraries.’

As soon as The Flaws’ set ended, the crowd got over their stage fright, swarming forward to eagerly await the headliners. The Walkmen had flown in fresh off a show in Lisbon, Portugal, the city which has captivated them so much in recent years that they named their September release Lisbon in its honour. And they wasted little time unleashing this new material, getting into the chiming, pulsing guitar riff of ‘Victory’ and the old country/bluegrass ramble of ‘Blue As Your Blood’ before too long.

The quintet pounded along behind singer Hamilton Leithauser’s gritty wails, which soared above the effects-laden rock conglomeration below. At times, when pushing songs to the limit, The Walkmen were able to produce a solitary iconic image – that of Leithauser, tall and formidable in the centre of the stage, arched slightly back and howling toward the moon while the band kicked into high gear behind him. At other times, the group displayed a distinctly indie tinge, with shimmering keys from Walter Martin over a thumping bass line from Peter Bauer creating a classic effect. The duo actually switched instruments a few times throughout the show, as on the Jimmy Cliff cover ‘Many Rivers To Cross.’

The laid back ‘Canadian Girl’ was a highlight, with the band delivering it at a lackadaisical pace that allowed Leithauser’s vocals to ring clear. More new tracks, such as the slow waltz ‘While I Shovel The Snow’ and the bouncy, up-tempo ‘Woe Is Me’ provided different changes of pace, new colours that stood out from the explosive rock that The Walkmen excel at and occasionally fall back on.

An encore of the Wilco-esque plinking piano-based song ‘We’ve Been Had,’ which featured guitarist Paul Maroon switching instruments with Martin, and the group’s 2004 hit ‘The Rat’ were delivered masterfully, with the former’s dreamlike atmosphere offset by the raw power and infectious enthusiasm produced by the latter. And as The Walkmen walked off the stage after nearly an hour and a half, the Monday night crowd at Tripod was finally satiated.