Vampire Weekend soars at the new speed of buzz
March 22nd, 2008, 9:27 pm Hobbies And Interests
ATLANTA - As Vampire Weekend - one of the fastest-rising, freshest bands around - took the stage at The Earl in East Atlanta Sunday night, a woman in her 20s near the stage said softly, “They’re, like, 12.”Actually the four members of Vampire Weekend are 23 and 24, just out of Columbia University in New York, where they were playing frat parties not long ago. With one self-made CD and a boost from the indie music blogosphere, they have blown up at what Spin magazine calls “the new speed of buzz,” in its March cover story that anointed them “The Year’s Best New Band.”That cover led to a last-minute booking on “Saturday Night Live” and then straight to Atlanta to open their national tour as opening act for the Walkmen at the small club.Vampire Weekend’s music is much friendlier than their name would imply - jangly African guitar rhythms, insanely catchy melodies and clever lyrics about college life and growing up privileged. They’re like Paul Simon’s talented kids remixing “Graceland.”"When the show was first announced in January, they weren’t that big at all,” said Crystal Rodgers, a barista. “Now they’re everywhere. Their music instantly puts you in a good mood.”Jordan Parker was one of several fans who didn’t care about the headliners. “I don’t even know who the Walkmen are,” he said. “I’m just here for Vampire Weekend. You get such a better experience up close with just a few hundred people. They’ll never do a club like this again.”Even though it’s unusual to be on “SNL” one night and opening in a bar the next, the band seemed to enjoy itself. Lead singer Ezra Koenig wore a navy cardigan with a duck motif, the kind of sweater your dad would wear; he’s working some kind of anti-rock star persona. Rubber-kneed, he bounced on tiptoes for the high notes in “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa.” The set closer, “Oxford Comma,” which sounds a little like the old African folk tune “Wimoweh” rewritten by an English major, had all four Vamps shouting along.For now they’re the new new thing. “It’ll be interesting,” said Rodgers, “to see what happens when the kids and MTV find out about ‘em.”
Tags: amp, dad, oxford, privilege, undayRelated posts
