Vampire Weekend to Join Zach Galifianakis on SNL

Adding to the anticipation of Zach Galifianakis hosting Saturday Night Live on March 6th, Vampire Weekend has been confirmed as the musical guest for the show. This is the band's second appearance on SNL.

Here's hoping for the Vamps in a digital short!

VIDEO: Vampire Weekend - "Giving Up the Gun"

As promised, VW's video for Giving Up the Gun.

It's a great comfort to know that every Jonas Brothers fan in the world now knows about "a great, new underground band" called Vampire Weekend.

VW's 'Giving Up the Gun' Video Debut

Vampire Weekend will debut their video for Giving Up the Gun tomorrow, which will include Jake Gyllenhaal, Joe Jonas, Lil John and RZA participating in what director Emmett Molloy calls "a bizarre-o tennis match".

Look for it here or on Spinner tomorrow.

Contra

Congratulations to Vampire Weekend for debuting on Billboard at NUMBER ONE for their sophomore LP Contra with 123,597 units sold in the release's first week. That's just 25,000 less than Ke$ha, who had the top spot last week.

The album is really great (especially Diplomat's Son). There really aren't any duds on this one. The fact that they made the best of their backlash to backlash status with a killer follow-up is just awesome for them.

Way to go, Vampy!

Last Night: Vampire Weekend

On Sunday I went to see Vampire Weekend play at the United Palace Theater, a beautiful old restored movie theater, which is located under the George Washington Bridge (well, almost). Thankfully, the show that these preppy local heroes put on was well worth the long trip on the A train. Unfortunately, it was a seated gig, so I didn't have much control over my spot in the theater. The picture above is just a plain point and shoot shot, not sure why it's as fuzzy as it is. Taking pictures just wouldn't have been worth it. If you'd like to see some professional photos, head over to BKV.

They played every song in their discography, with the exception of Bryn from the s/t and I Think UR a Contra. Their first New York show was a lot of fun, they played really well for the young crowd and it was apparent that everyone in the theater was all for them.

Setlist:
(the band coined it as their longest show ever!)

White Sky
Holiday
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
I Stand Corrected
M79 (strings)
California English
Cousins
Taxi Cab
Run
A-Punk
One (Blake's Got a New Face)
The Kids Don't Stand a Chance (strings)
Diplomat's Son (strings)
Giving Up the Gun
Campus / Oxford Comma

ENC
Horchata (strings)
Ottoman (strings)
Mansard Roof
Walcott

Read about the other times I've seen the Vamps
HERE , HERE & HERE

Preview VW's "Contra" in Full

Contra, Vampire Weekend's second LP, is out next week. Steam it all on myspace.
Where can you buy the disc & get a bonus CD? Find out!

VIDEO: Vampire Weekend - "Cousins"

Apologies for the excess of Vampire Weekend coverage, but here is the video for their single Cousins.
It's a bit weird, but also appropriately fitting for VW's quirkiness and love of using a single shooting track/angle for their videos (See Oxford Comma).

Released Today

Here's the art for Vampire Weekend's second single Cousins, which was released today. Look for their sophomore album 'Contra' in January.

hypem

Vampire Weekend & Your Cousins

The Vamps have announced that they will be releasing Cousins as the follow-up single to Horchata (released free last month) from their sophomore album 'Contra'.

The release date for the single is November 17.
California/Europe 2010 tour dates here.

Check out a preview of Cousins, performed in LA on November 1st...

MP3: Vampire Weekend Single "Horchata"

Vampire Weekend has taken a popular route and released their new single Horchata today for free on their website. Take a listen and grab the MP3!

Their sophomore album, Contra, is out January 12, 2010 on XL Records.

Vampire Weekend Sophomore Album Revealed

There they are! The album art and tracklisting for Contra, the
Vamp's follow-up LP.

It's slated for January 12, 2010.

New Vampire Weekend Songs

Hopefully the new album's coming soon! We'll keep you updated.

"Run" in Montreal (8/2/09)

"Cousins" in Copenhagen (8/13/09)

This page is coming along; still in the process of finalizing design though.

Go Vampy

2008 indie champs Vampire Weekend are currently taking time off from their extensive touring schedule to record their sophomore LP in Brooklyn. "It's definitely going to be a recognizably Vampire Weekend sound, but there are going to be new sounds. We're trying to challenge ourselves not to use the same bag of tricks that we used on the first album-- different instruments, stuff like that," frontman Ezra tells Entertainment Weekly.

As of now the band is hoping for a September release.
Full EW story here!

'White Sky' on Jimmy

Patagonia jacket!! (Ezra is wearing one! haha)
I've seen them play this song live a few times -
this is unparalleled for the quietest and most serious version.
Have they done a lot of taped TV performances? Besides SNL?
They seem nervous.
Ezra at the end is like..
"Jimmy, everyone already has the record. Don't touch me."

At least we have a 4th quarter record coming!
Maybe they could get it out if they stopped touring for once.

They need to get in the studio.
Good chance they'll avoid most of the backlash since they're not rushing it but there's going to be some. A lot of their fans are loyal though.

Late Night Vampires

The Vamps on Jimmy Tonight !
They're playing 'White Sky'
12:37 am, NY time.

( Don't they look so 'first day of school' in this picture? ☺)

'White Sky' @ Terminal 5, I was there!

Last Night: Vampire Weekend !

Vampire Weekend at Terminal 5 last night was honestly the best gig I've been to in awhile. It was so fun. They played all of the songs off of the first album along with Ottoman, since they had a string section for a few songs to back them and three new songs they promised to record early next year. (NME also had a piece stating this a few weeks ago)

The encore was a cover of my favorite Fleetwood Mac song, Everywhere (not kidding/you can download it here) and Walcott.

They did help me realized that I am afraid of crowd surfers though. Thankfully and un-thankfully I was surrounded in by a bunch of tall skinny guys who a) pushed the the crowd surfers down to the floor and b) obstructed my view even though I was only about 3 rows of people back on the right.




Call and Response: blake's got a new face !

Times Sunday Puzzle: Living Room Set?

Yeah, so I'm really excited for Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. It comes out on Friday. East Village love story with JunoBoy and playlists...sounds good to me!

Anyway so I was looking at the soundtrack for the movie and Vampy Weekend's on there with a song called "Ottoman", but it was (surprise!) album only. I gotta find a download. By hook or by crook? We'll see.

Sterogum coverage

Fall and Winter Gig Lineup

As of right now, I've put 3 concerts on the calendar.

The Postelles @ the Rugby Store (Union Square-ish), September 19, 7pm.
I don't know if I'm going to go to this one or the 16+ Highline Ballroom show on October 2nd. I'd like to see them again though.

Born Ruffians @ Sound Fix in Brooklyn, October 28, 7-8pm.
I am so glad they put in an all ages show before they play Union Hall (Brooklyn) 21+ right after. Since Roger's Picnic and Summerstage, I've been listening to The BR nonstop! One of my favorite bands.

Vampire Weekend @ Terminal 5, December 4, 8pm.
Yay! I'm going with my friend that missed out on VW the first time at Summerstage because of the rain. It's going to be so much fun...but packed. It's GA floor and they sold out the December 3rd show.

Gig Book: Roger's Picnic

I think that Vampire Weekend hates me. It rained like HELL at Roger's Picnic, which was last Sunday, July 20 in Toronto. The music was really great though and all the people who went were exactly the same as the alt ones here in the city. I left pretty early, but I did see the following acts: Born Ruffians, Dizzee Rascal, Vampire Weekend and some Chromeo. In addition, I got an awesome Roger's Picnic Tee that has all of the bands on it (the Canadians seriously manufacture the softest concert tees!)


That's Vampire Weekend on the top and the Born Ruffians below. Both great live performers.

Foiled Again

It's been awhile since another one of my favorite bands Vampire Weekend took the stage for a free concert in Central Park on June 14. If anyone was there, you may recall there were torrential thunderstorms minutes into the first act (Born Ruffians).
So I missed out on hearing VW live, since my friend and I weren't even in the Summerstage area, we were outside on the wood chips. All we could see was the top of the banner that's on the top of the stage.
We booked it to the subway, getting soaked. Then it was fah-reezhing on the train.

So how am I going to see my favorite Vampires? Well, I'm jetting off to Toronto on July 20th for Roger's Picnic. There are 9 bands- I'm looking forward to Tokyo Police Club, Born Ruffians and of course Vampire Weekend. It's outside and rain or shine, so I seriously hope it doesn't get rained on.

Call me crazy, but I'd do anything for a good gig.

I Love the Oxford Comma video! It's a single shot. Impressive.

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