Hamilton Leithauser

Hamilton Leithauser, the hard-hitting frontman of The Walkmen, has been a pivotal force in rock 'n' roll since the early 2000s NYC scene, transitioning smoothly from the band's successes to a solo endeavor. Defined by evocative lyricism, dry wit, and a voice that Vogue described as "unafraid to turn loose and chase to sonic terrain that regularly veers from the dangerous to the beautiful," Leithauser has carried that singular force into a flourishing career that refuses to sit still.

Hamilton has become a beloved annual fixture at the Café Carlyle, the intimate supper club at the Carlyle Hotel on Manhattan's Upper East Side. An unlikely pairing given that the venue is best known for cabaret and jazz. What began as an against-the-grain experiment has grown into one of New York's most coveted tickets. Each run has gotten bigger with his 2026 engagement spanning 16 nights, his most ever. The intimate setting creates an unusual experience: a full rock band in a room full of people in sportcoats sipping martinis. Surprise guests throughout the residency have included Leon Bridges, Tony Danza, Maggie Rogers, J Mascis, Rostam, Allison Mosshart, Sharon Van Etten, Kevin Morby, Britt Daniel, plus some notable non-musicians like actor Michael Shannon and SNL's James Austin Johnson

In 2016, Leithauser joined forces with Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij for I Had A Dream That You Were Mine, a collaboration that debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Heatseekers Chart and was named one of the year's best records by Pitchfork, Esquire, NPR, and more. This fall marks its tenth anniversary.

Onstage, that confidence is total. Whether at the Café Carlyle, an NPR Tiny Desk Concert, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, or a packed festival field, Leithauser delivers with the kind of commanding presence that makes the room feel different by the time he's done. He has shared stages with Vampire Weekend, IDLES, The Black Keys, Arcade Fire, Death Cab for Cutie, Spoon, Broken Bells, Lord Huron, Elle King, Interpol, Kings of Leon, Florence and the Machine, and many more.

His most recent record, This Side of the Island, finds Leithauser channeling unrelenting optimism and biting humor against the grain of a polarized world. Co-produced with Aaron Dessner (The National, Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams) and his wife Anna Stumpf, it is the work of an artist who has never been more sure of himself.

Once described as "a mountain of sardonicism and dry wit wrapped in a dinner jacket," Hamilton Leithauser is primed and ready for a modern era.