vampire weekend

by Polly Rappaport
Thu, 2008/01/17 - Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, London
ARTROCKER RATING:
You’ve probably seen their name peppering the music press in the past few months - and you can expect to be seeing and hearing about Vampire Weekend a lot more over the coming year. This preppy foursome from New York are soon to be releasing what is technically their second album, the first having been produced by themselves before signing with XL Recordings and putting together their eponymous ‘debut’.
Vampire Weekend have circular synths, African rhythms, lyrics about punctuation and, to be frank, polo shirts...
What makes this wager on their upcoming popularity a safe bet is the uniqueness of their sound. They primarily reference African music for example, and there are indeed undeniable echoes of Paul Simon’s Graceland in their music. Outside the gig I overhear a couple of punters mulling over how to describe Vampire Weekend’s music: “Like the Strokes only the Strokes don’t use condoms and these lot do.” Fantastic. Unfortunate mental pictures aside, that’s actually pretty well spot on; they do play New York guitar pop - but Vampire Weekend also have circular synths, African rhythms, lyrics about punctuation and, to be frank, polo shirts. Some people have already chosen Vampire Weekend as their favourite band of 2008, despite it being only a few weeks into the year - and their shows have been selling out, with tonight being no exception. So! If you’d like to get down with a bit of Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, Vampire Weekend’s album is out on the 29th of January in all good record shops (condoms not included).
  • Cervantes Fri, 2008/02/01 - 2:13pm

    more polly please.

    instead of criticising the reviewer it might be an idea to actually write something more substantial yourself.

    well now, we all know too many hyped up indie bands get overexposed without anyone knowing what the hell they're actually all about.

    this review was a good introduction to a band i have indeed been seeing lots of in press. its clear, objective and unpretentious. and it made me smile.

    more of miss rappaport please

  • Brad Sun, 2008/01/27 - 1:29pm

    Okay...

    I don't mean to be rude but - did the gig actually get reviewed? This reads more like a news story.
    I was there, and despite not considering myself part of the "trendy London audience" I enjoyed the first three songs or so. Very positive, very fluttery, very minimal and melodic. Then more of the reggae and Hawaiian influences seeped in. It quickly got pretty boring. I can see why they are hotly tipped - they are mediocre, therefore they will appeal to mediocre people, who tend to buy records. Another score for averageness.

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