The Walkmen @ SWG3, Glasgow, 21 Aug

It's been over a decade since The Walkmen were last in Scotland and there's a buzz around the newly renovated SWG3 complex. Following Roddy Woomble's new project, Almost Nothing, there's a long gap as the excitement builds, only to be relieved when the five-piece (eventually) arrive.

Fittingly, They're Winning, the first song from their first album is the opener, and it's clear that there's been no dulling of the band's musical edge in the intervening years as they easily lock into a steadily building groove. Singer Hamilton Leithauser's howl is also in fine form, and the screams he lets off during Little House of Savages and On the Water hint at an alternate universe where he could've made a name in the world of post-hardcore. "It's like riding a bike," he quips early on.

The whole band are energetic and on point throughout, but Leithauser is on another level, able to take it from jokey bantering with the crowd, to ecstatic shouts, to soulful crooning (Red Moon) with the greatest of ease. The latter is the most similar to his excellent solo work, but for the most part it's the harder, punk-edged sound that best suits the band, most evident on the manic shred of Angela Surf City.

Appearing unexpectedly early in the set, it's hard to overstate just how brilliant The Rat is. For those who only know the band through this song, it's easy to see why as it still absolutely rips almost 20 years on. More than Interpol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs or even The Strokes, this is the sound of the NYC-led post-punk revival of the 2000s. The final climactic refrain of 'When I used to go out I'd know everyone I saw / Now I go out alone if I go out at all' was premature back in 2004, but now it feels appropriate for the 40-something group, and even moreso for the crowd (it doesn't seem like the band have picked up many new fans during their hiatus).

As this song arrives in the first half hour, there's a bit of deflation afterwards, despite the band's best efforts. It all sounds great, but there's less movement than you might expect. A final trio of Angela Surf City, All Hands and the Cook and Heaven perk things up a bit, with fan favourite We've Been Had closing the encore. It's a wonderful performance and reminder of one of the best bands of that era, though without new music, it's not clear how long this act can be sustained.