Keeping pace with The Walkmen

Not many bands have been playing music together since childhood. The Walkmen's cohesive sound that was forged during their time together sounds as if they were laying riffs while in their mothers' wombs. What has resulted over the years is a powerful document of totally unique, engaging music.

The Walkmen, a New York City-based band that has been playing music since their early childhood, have been compared to U2 for their thrilling stage presence. They are set to perform at Buffalo's Mohawk Place on Sunday, Jan. 29.

Band member Walt Martin talked to The Spectrum about the group's new album, the bands' personal recording studio, and being placed in the "New York" sound category that is popular at the moment.

The Walkmen are embarking on a five-date mini-tour, hitting locations like Montreal and Toronto along the way. Martin explains that the tour will be small so that people have time to digest the new songs they are debuting.

"We don't feel like we are forcing it down people's throats," he said.

They will be supporting their new unnamed album to be released in April. This album is the follow-up to their critically acclaimed second album from 2004, "Bows and Arrows," featuring 11 new songs that Martin is extremely enthusiastic about.

"I think it's the best record we've done," he said.

While still sounding very much like The Walkmen that one would expect to hear after their first two offerings, their style has noticeably evolved.

"We're the same guys who made the last album," Martin said. "People have told us it's happier-sounding. It feels like it has a happier spirit."

Members of the band formed after the breakups of former acts Jonathan Fire Eater and the Recoys. Maroon, Barick and Martin moved to New York with the intent of forming a band, and they became Jonathan Fire Eater, while Leithauser and Bauer formed the Recoys, who would often tour with Jonathan Fire Eater.

Marcata was created after the breakup of Jonathan Fire Eater, and was instrumental in forming The Walkmen. Their personal studio located in Harlem also had an important function in the bands' early days.

"(We were) two different bands who would unify in the studio," Martin said. "It was a place to bring our instruments and play new songs while waiting for our records to come out."

Because of the timing of their 2002 debut album "Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone," The Walkmen were grouped with other bands characteristic to the "New York" sound.

"(Concerning) groups like Interpol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Strokes, we were never involved with them," Martin said. "I respect what they are doing, but we are doing something different. It helped us get attention and also hurt us because we lost our individuality as a band."

The new tracks should give the band something to be excited about, after wearing out old songs on tour. They will be playing many new tracks from their yet-to-be named album, and some material from previous releases as well.

Martin says there's difference between the bands' sound on their albums versus hearing them on stage.

"We have the tendency to be stiff on the record. We are a lot more loose and loud onstage," he said.

The Walkmen are a force to be reckoned with. Come see them amp up and play their much-anticipated new material months before the album comes out. They are playing at the Mohawk Place, Sunday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m.