The Walkmen, having been around for over 10 years now, are practically senior citizens in indie rock terms, although they really should be thought of as elder statesmen. Or maybe just middle aged. They have definitely grown and progressed audibly over that period of time, their music becoming a little less angry and a bit more lovey as they changed their personal status from single, young men to married fathers. The edge is still there, a reminder that even the happy ones still feel the sting of disappointment from time to time.

The band did multiple stops in southern California supporting their latest album, Heaven, and this was the first.  Something about the open air venue and the warm, breezy night made it the perfect setting for The Walkmen to play a real collection of gems under the stars. (To make the night even dreamier, a doe and her two fawns were spotted at the top of the hill, crossing the “backdrop” of the stage just before they went on.)

The setlist included songs from their entire catalog, ranging from early tracks like “The Blizzard of ‘96” to their most recent single, “Heartbreaker.” Though they had a horn section tag along to add some flair, The Walkmen’s sound hasn’t really changed all that much: somewhat garage, with jangly guitar and plonky piano, the heavy beats of drummer Matt Barrick and the powerful voice of Hamilton Leithauser at the forefront. Lyrically, however, there has been quite an evolution. Songs from the latest album, “We Can’t Be Beat” and the title track “Heaven,” showcase that life contentment the guys are dealing with these days. The crowd sang along to those new favorites, and came alive for old ones too, really filling the air for “We’ve Been Had” and “Angela Surf City.” There were more good times for all involved when they did “In the New Year” from 2008’s You & Me, and another special treat of the night was “All the Hands and the Cook” from 2006’s A Hundred Miles Off. (And anyone who got to see the show at Santa Ana’s Observatory was electrified by “The Rat” during the encore.)

The Walkmen thanked their audience after almost every song, smiling and repeatedly expressing their excitement to be playing in Los Angeles. After a magical show like that, with a rapturous crowd and a gloriously beautiful night outdoors, it’s no wonder everyone was happy.

- Zowie and Mo Herms for Moheak Radio (photos by Zowie)