Caught Live: The Walkmen, Dublin

The Walkmen's new album, "You & Me", is already established in the minds of many listeners as one of the year's best. It not only showcases the band's trademark knack for combining classic 60s rock elegance & pure aggression, but embraces a more considered, reflective mood perhaps fitting for a band now on their fourth album.

Both of the main elements of the Walkmen's sound – the inventive, intelligent arrangements and Hamilton Leithauser's rasping, primal vocals - are present tonight, as the band present a set heavily loaded with faithful versions of their new songs, even if "Red Moon" sorely lacks the mournful horns of the recorded version (Leithauser explains that their Cuban horn section was refused entry to the UK).

Live, though, they really take off when they lean on the more powerful side of their repertoire: "In The New Year" is compellingly loose, and the formidable "The Rat" is even more ferocious than on record, as Matt Barrick's propulsive drumming and Paul Maroon's ringing guitar lines are topped off with Leithauser's contemptuous vocals, pure Highway 61-era Dylan in their self-righteous fury.

It's the band's first time on these shores, and it's a shame that it has to come at the end of a several-month-long tour; the band are visibly knackered and seem relieved to be on their way home. However, they still include enough material from their first 3 albums ("Wake Up" from their debut "Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone", and the beautiful "What's In It For Me" from the follow up "Bows and Arrows") to satisfy the many in search of a greatest hits set, and to ensure a hearty welcome on their return.