Prior to The Walkmen's formation, Leithauser and bass guitarist and organist, Peter Matthew Bauer, were both members of The Recoys.

Leithauser embarked upon a solo career in 2014, releasing his debut studio album, Black Hours, on June 3, written and recorded alongside his Walkmen bandmate Paul Maroon.

[7][8] As a teenager, he had a summer job at Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, Virginia where he helped engineer Fugazi's Red Medicine.

Following The Recoys' breakup, Leithauser and Bauer formed The Walkmen, while Hugh McIntosh joined The French Kicks and the Child Ballads as the bands' drummer.

It includes covers of Lana Del Rey's "The Greatest", Big Thief's "Not", and Randy Newman's "Miami".

Over the years, Leithauser has performed and recorded with many members from his extended family: his wife, Anna Stumpf, who occasionally performs live with him and has contributed to records by Leithauser and The Walkmen;[19] brothers-in-law Nick Stumpf, a producer and keyboardist,[20][21] and Hugh McIntosh, a drummer and former bandmate in The Recoys;[22][23] his father Mark who plays harmonica; as well as his children and nieces.