FRIDAY, MAY 4 LAST CHANCE to drop off your outdated electronics that have been gathering dust. eForce Compliance will be here to collect and recycle your outdated phones, appliances, cords, cassette tapes, VHS, CDs, and more – this Friday, May 4 (11:30am-1pm). Click here for the list of acceptable items that can be donated. The more stuff donated, the more $$ XPN will make.

The Walkmen's sound has been compared to The Strokes, and called "Bob Dylan meets the Velvet Underground" by NPR. Their rock is characterized by its simplicity-- energetic, repetitive guitar hooks, driving drums, and of course, the voice of front man, Hamilton Leithauser, who seems to bellow, howl and croon simultaneously. They've released six albums, including a cover album of Harry Nilsson and John Lennon's "Pussy Cats" in its entirety. The Walkmen return to Philly with the upcoming release of their seventh album approaching to play an XPN Free At Noon at World Cafe Live on Friday, May 4. The Walkmen will tour this summer in support of the album, Heaven including a string of shows with Florence and the Machine.

The five members of The Walkmen all grew in the DC area and attended the same high school. They formed in 2000 after the bands that the members were previously split between, Jonathan Fire*Eater and The Recoys, broke up. The Walkmen's career began when the group moved to Harlem and created a recording space called Marcata Studios.

In 2002, the band released its first full length, Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone, to critical acclaim and one track, "We've Been Had" was featured in a Saturn Ion car commercial. Bows + Arrows, their sophomore album, launched their band into national success. Their singles "The Rat" and "Little House of Savages" demonstrated the band's versatility and they were booked to play not only concerts and festivals, but also to play on an episode of The O.C.

The band has consistently continued to make music that delights critics and attracts fans, despite closing their recording studio in 2006. The group recently finished recording their seventh album, Heaven, and it's release date has been moved up to May 29! The members described this album as the easiest they've ever written, and in an interview said that they actually wrote "30 something songs" when they sat down to write for "Heaven" but narrowed it down. This album promises to be quieter than previous albums, though they have been performing with a full horn section. With an album trailer out and a spring tour to debut new material, The Walkmen prove yet again that while they can still change directions after 12 years, they never stray far from their distinct and beloved sound.

Come hear new material from The Walkmen's upcoming album Heaven when they perform at World Cafe Live on May 4. It's a show you won't want to miss.

Website: thewalkmen.com/heaven/
Myspace: myspace.com/thewalkmen
Facebook: facebook.com/TheWalkmen
Recent Release: Heaven
Release Date: May 29, 2012
Label: Fat Possum/Bella Union
Hometown: New York City