Vampire Weekend is actually just so good it hurts. They’ve quickly jumped into my top five favourite bands list and I listen to at least one of their favorite04 albums in full every day. The quartet is just insanely talented and have a phenomenal sound that’s so unique and a breath of fresh air in the indie scene. As much as I adore them, I kind of expected them to suck live, so I was hesitant to watch videos of their performances. I was pleasantly surprised.
One of their most famous songs, that’s been put in countless films and commercials, “A-Punk” never fails to elicit a response from any listener. Its’ iconic beginning riff is addictive and fun, and entirely timeless. Live, it’s even better. The vocalist, Ezra, has a powerful voice that’s stadium-worthy. Not only does it hold its own above the strong and intricate instruments, but it also has the ability to just simply blend and be soft. His range is also quite impressive, and he doesn’t hesitate to show it off in this performance.
The drummer, Chris, never fails to just blow me away. He’s obviously intensely trained and never misses a beat (pun intended). This performance in particular, the connection him and the bassist Chris make is stunning- the two share a name, and obviously a flawless sense of rhythm. Then adding in the keyboards turns this upbeat dancey tune into the song of the decade- then again, that could be said for any Vampire Weekend song.
I’ve gotta see this band live- they’re definitely charismatic and interesting, and put on a great show. Live or recorded, Vampire Weekend is the greatest indie pop band of my generation.
