Indie rock group The Walkmen somewhat defy their so-called "indie" branding. With with heavy influences from Bob Dylan and The Kinks, The Walkmen combine emotional lyrics with a throwback to classic rock roots, which doesn't exactly fit into the "indie rock" box - especially since the band crosses genres with songs featured films such as "Spider-Man 3" and television cult classic "The O.C."
The band, which will play Saturday at Common Grounds, originally formed in 2000, and the five members - two who played with the band The Recoys and three who played with Jonathan Fire*Eater - have helped define the New York music scene. As two former bands faded, The Walkmen emerged.
Paul Maroon (guitar and piano), Walter Martin (organ and bass) and Matt Barrick (drums) worked at their recording studio Marcata Recording before teaming up with Peter Bauer (bass and organ) and Hamilton Leithauser (vocals and guitar).
"Walt's cousin is Hamilton, and we needed a singer," Barrick said. "The Recoys were kind of coming apart, and we wanted to play with them. It just kind of worked."
The band has been touring to promote its fifth album, "You & Me," which was released in August. An earlier online version was sold to raise money for a friend in need.
Bauer said after he found out that a friend's baby was diagnosed with leukemia, the band members decided they wanted to help with the medical costs.
The album was sold for $5 online, and the band donated all proceeds to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Though Barrick doesn't know the exact amount they collected, the album grabbed the 29th spot on Billboard's Top Digital Albums.
"It was a lot more than a benefit concert would have done," he said.
While touring to promote the album, The Walkmen will also search for temporary trumpet and trombone players for a few shows. After finishing their tour of the states, they will head to France, Germany, England, Scotland and Ireland.
They've already begun their search for the Oct. 28 show in London.
"We're just looking for talented people," Barrick said. "It's hard and expensive to travel with that many people every night."
The band usually looks for teachers or professionals who have experience. For past shows they've put ads on Craigslist.
When they're not practicing or relaxing, the members enjoy writing movie reviews and restaurant reviews of towns they play.
"[After] Driving for six or seven hours a day in a van you start to get a little bored," Barrick said.
The members take turns writing the reviews and rate the restaurants with a letter grade.
Though they haven't written a review in a while, Gainesville cuisine could be the next topic.
"Got any recommendations?" Barrick said.
Tickets to Saturday's show are $12, and the doors open at 9 p.m. The Little Ones and Building The State will also perform.
