The Walkmen Announce Expanded 2023 Reunion Tour

Following their recent performance at Pasadena’s Just Like Heaven Festival on May 13th, The Walkmen has revealed a string of September and October headline shows that will take them across North America, captivating fans from coast to coast.

In an email to their dedicated mailing list, Peter Matthew Bauer, a member of The Walkmen, shared his reflections on the tour and the band’s future plans. Expressing genuine gratitude, Bauer confessed that the band had no idea how fans would respond to their reunion. However, the overwhelming joy of seeing concertgoers flock to their shows and reconnecting with old friends from all corners of the globe has been an absolute blast for the band.

Bauer described the sentiment surrounding their first show back as something magical, where “time was bending back on itself.” Recounting their reunion in New York, he nostalgically mentioned having dinner at Hamilton’s house, playing the Stephen Colbert show, and the exhilarating experience of returning to the Ed Sullivan Theater, where they played their memorable performance on Letterman years ago. These moments have undoubtedly made this reunion an out-of-body experience for the band members.

While Bauer admitted to previously causing the band’s breakup due to comments about an “extreme hiatus,” he reassured fans that he would avoid making such statements this time around. The uncertainty of what lies ahead, the element of surprise, and the raw energy that defined The Walkmen’s music from the beginning are what make this reunion special for them. Bauer acknowledged that the band is just getting started and expressed his reluctance to see it come to an end.

The newly announced tour dates will see The Walkmen embark on an adventurous journey across the United States. Beginning on September 16th in Nashville, they will make stops in Minneapolis, Denver, Seattle, Portland, and Oakland. The tour’s climax will include a two-night stand at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, showcasing the band’s enduring popularity. Finally, on October 11th, The Walkmen will wrap up their North American tour in Toronto, leaving audiences captivated and craving more.

Although there was speculation about a potential record contract signing, Bauer’s note did not mention any concrete plans for new music. He left fans in suspense, stating, “I don’t know what happens next,” but affirmed that these upcoming shows would mark the end of their current chapter.

Peter Matthew Bauer’s Note to Fans

The last few weeks have been an absolute blast.

Honestly, when we decided to get back together to play these shows, we had no idea if anyone would even show up. It’s been an incredible joy seeing all these people out there, playing these shows, getting to run into old friends from all over the world.

There was a review of our first show back that said something really nice- that it felt like “time was bending back on itself.” It really has and it’s been the strangest feeling. We all flew to New York, had dinner at Hamilton’s house with his family and actually did not practice as promised. The next day we played the Stephen Colbert show live on television. I think each of us hold on to playing Letterman as a very important memory. So, to be back at the Ed Sullivan Theater and be playing this song for the first time in ten years with your friends was like an out of body experience.

We are just getting going and I’m not really sure we want it to end. I will say, after being the dummy who I guess broke the band up last time saying something about an “extreme hiatus”, I’m going to avoid saying anything like that again. I will say, what makes it all special is when you don’t know what’s going to happen next and when you can actually wonder if this is the last time you’re ever going to get the chance to do this. Everything feels ragged and lively which is what all of us thought was good about the band in the first place.

So, I don’t know what happens next but I do know these shows are just about the end of what’s happening now. We are headed west across the USA this fall. We’ll go all the to way to California and the Pacific Northwest and play cities we haven’t in many years ultimately ending back east. Also, there’s still some tickets available for our UK run, so check the site and grab. We’ve got maybe one or two more in us to announce in the coming weeks. But that is it (I guess?)

– Pete

The Walkmen 2023 Tour Dates

September 16 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl
September 18 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
September 21 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
September 24 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox
September 26 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater
September 29 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
October 02 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
October 03 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
October 11 – Toronto, ON @ History

Tickets for the tour are available on Friday May 20th, 2023. For more information and updates, visit The Walkmen’s official website.