When I spoke with Walking Shapes lead singer, Nathaniel Hoho, over the phone in mid-July, he was just leaving a fashion show.
“New York is crazy,” he says with a laugh as the sounds of a busy street echo in the background.
Although he’s originally from Pennsylvania, Hoho credits the creative atmosphere of New York for helping launch rock band Walking Shapes in 2012. He and guitarist Jesse Kotansky were previously in a different band, but when they left they found something else that meshed.
“All of are friends are artists, everyone is in the arts and very supportive and collaborative with one another,” Hoho says. “The band formed through that.”
That collaborative nature is evident on their debut album, Mixtape Vol. 1, where the final handful of tracks are dance-worthy remixes. Hoho says they were happy to involve their friends—including Mike Irish, whose remixed version of “Lighter” is a cool, pulsating EDM jam, and Seasick Mama, who hauntingly covers Frank Ocean’s “Lost” with the band.
But Walking Shapes can certainly hold their own. Hoho describes Mixtape as a collection of songs they simply wanted to share, but their sophomore album, Taka Come On, shows their established identity as a band.
“I think for that second album, we had a little more time to come in our own,” Hoho says. “We weren’t such a young band anymore… We set out to make an album, whereas Mixtape was kind of by chance.”
The standout track on Taka Come On is “Feel Good,” a breezy, fun tune turned edgy by low keyboard strokes; the impressive instrumental arrangements make it an instant hit. But “In The Wake” is where Hoho’s vocals soar. In between lively shouts of “c’mon” and quiet serenades of “I’d do for you anything I could,” Walking Shapes’ alt rock sound shines.
The band has played on stages both local, national, and international, from the clubs they frequent in New York to major festivals like South By Southwest in Austin. They’re more than happy to return to St. Louis for their gig at LouFest (and to maybe enjoy those slides at the City Museum again).
“Expect a good, energetic, exciting set,” Hoho says.
Walking Shapes performs Sunday, September 13 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, go to loufest.com.
