The Walkmen is an American indie rock band, with members based in New York City and Philadelphia. The band formed in 2000
with three members from Jonathan Fire*Eater—Paul Maroon (guitar, piano), Walter Martin (organ/bass), and Matt Barrick
(drums)—and two from The Recoys, Peter Bauer (bass/organ) and Hamilton Leithauser (vocals, guitar). All but Bauer attended
St. Albans in Washington, D.C.
They prefer the sound of vintage musical instruments, particularly the upright piano, and have often recorded at Marcata
Recording, a recording studio built in Harlem in 1999 by the three former members of Jonathan Fire*Eater and later relocated to
upstate New York.
