The between-set music for Friday night’s homecoming show for DC boys The Walkmen was Big Star. Nothing but Big Star, all the time.

About as a fitting as they come for California openers Broken West, who might currently be the most deserving heirs to the tattered power pop crown. They opened with lead single “Down in the Valley,” drawing out the opening, ringing A-chord, double rhythm-guitar parts in classic power pop fashion. Occasionally, the band would sub in driving piano – like on “So It Goes” and “Big City” – but the effect was the same: mid-tempo, chugging pop songs, accentuated by harmonized vocals that, unfortunately, came out a little flat in the RnR Hotel mix. For a large portion of the crowd, it may not have been much to write home about, but any power pop geeks out there will likely see the Broken West as a bright light on an otherwise dim horizon.

But most folks were there for The Walkmen, and there was genuine anticipation to see them play a new, much smaller room this time around. An enhanced touring lineup, featuring members of opener Whale Etoufee as horn section, crammed onto the small stage and proceeded to bang out a variety of brand new songs for the sold out crowd. Some were better than others, and most made you wonder exactly how much The Walkmen like playing in front of a crowd. Granted, the material is all pretty dark – as a friend once said, “the soundtrack to a New York alley-way at 4 a.m.” – but stage presence has never been their strong suit. There’s essentially no audience interaction, hardly even any eye contact, and we counted exactly one smile during the set proper. Was it malaise? The hometown crowd? Could’ve been any number of things, but if you didn’t already love the Walkmen, Friday probably didn’t make you a convert.