Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend: Pop music is avant-garde

Music gossip

Vampire Weekend think modern pop music is "incredibly avant-garde". The 'Diane Young' band think people are quick to write off mainstream hits because of their popularity, but if they looked a little deeper they would see how much they incorporate…

Ezra Koenig 'more American than ever'

Music gossip

Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig feels "more American than ever before". The 'Diane Young' singer surprised even himself with how he has embraced his home country, even though the band's new album, 'Modern Vampires of the City', has songs critical of US…

Vampire Weekend's more mature sound

Music gossip

Vampire Weekend's new album has less "smart-ass" lyrics. The indie band's third offering, 'Modern Vampires of the City', has seen them ditch sarcastic lyrics to explore deeper and more sincere feelings. Singer Ezra Koenig explained: "I've…

Vampire Weekend's road trip inspiration

Music gossip

Vampire Weekend took a road trip for their new album. The indie band packed up their gear and travelled to Martha's Vineyard, an island South of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, to pen new tracks for their third album 'Modern Vampires of the City' when…

Vampire Weekend's new album completes trilogy

Music gossip

Vampire Weekend think their new album forms a trilogy. The indie rockers feel they have come full circle with their third record 'Modern Vampires of the City', which is a perfect complement to their first two albums because of its New York inspired…

Vampire Weekend complete third album

Music gossip

Vampire Weekend have completed their third album. The 'A-Punk' band said today they have finished work on the follow up to 2010's 'Contra', which has been almost two years in the making. They simply tweeted: "LP3 complete. May 7th." The band…

Vampire Weekend promise 'darker' third album

Music gossip

Vampire Weekend's new album will be "darker and a bit spookier". The indie rockers are busy working on the follow-up to 2010's 'Contra', and have opted for a more old-fashioned sound with eerie lyrics and haunting undertones. Rostam Batmanglij…

Vampire Weekend ready third album

Music Gossip

Vampire Weekend have "many songs" ready for their third album. The 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa' group are working on their next album and plotting to take their sound into uncharted territory. Bassist Chris Baio - who is also preparing his first…

Kasabian, The Chemical Brothers, Paolo Nutini and Glasvegas set for RockNess 2011

Line-up also includes DJ Shadow, Frightened Rabbit, Magnetic Man

Rockness, Scotland's fastest growing festival, returns for 2011 with some of the hottest new acts in guitar music, while simultaneously remaining true to its electronic roots. Looking at the line-up, combined with winning NME's 'Best Small Festival…

Ezra Koenig has no Christmas traditions

Music Gossip

Ezra Koenig doesn't have any festive traditions. The Vampire Weekend singer has not yet made any definite plans for Christmas Day (25.12.10) or New Year's Eve (31.12.10) this year as he likes to make more spontaneous decisions. He said: "I think…

Vampire Weekend ready to record again

Music Gossip

Vampire Weekend are already preparing for their third album. Although the group only released second LP 'Contra' in January, they can't wait to get started on a follow-up record, even though they are unsure what musical direction to take their music…

The Sowetan smell of success - Vampire Weekend interview

It’s hard work being in a globally successful breakthrough world/funk/pop band. Chris Baio of Vampire Weekend finally manages a chat with David Pollock

Muse, Eminem and Kasabian are T in the Park 2010 headliners

The Prodigy, Jay-Z and Vampire Weekend also on Balado festival bill

Muse, Eminem and Kasabian will headline the main stage at T In The Park 2010. Other major acts on the bill include Black Eyed Peas, The Prodigy and Jay-Z. The festival dates are Friday 9th. Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th July 2010. The campsite is…

Vampire Weekend set for Edinburgh and Glasgow dates

Upon the release of their eponymous debut album almost exactly two years ago, it seemed possible to bracket Vampire Weekend as a novelty band. They were four preppy middle class New York kids taking the traditional sounds of impoverished African folk…

Vampire Weekend - Contra

(XL) Where would these Ivy League afro-pop boffins be without Paul Simon’s Graceland? Half an album short of songs on their second long-player, Contra, that’s where. If the New York quartet’s much-hyped debut merged African rhythms and art-rock…

Songs of the Year 2008

‘Skinny Love’ Bon Iver One man’s heartbreak becomes our joy from the album of the year. ‘Like the Rest of Us’ Atmosphere The leftfield dwelling purists may sneer but this is beguiling, introspective hip hop brilliance. ‘Run Run’ Those Dancing Days…

Musicians' guide: How to make it in the music industry

Want to make it in music? Fancy yourself as The Next Big Thing? Claire Sawers and Malcolm Jack track down nine very different people currently working in the industry and quiz them on just what they do and how they do it In addition, for detailed…

T in the Park - Up-and-comers

MGMT What Psychedelic synth-pop duo from Brooklyn Unique Selling Point They sound wonderfully woozy on record but the MGMT live experience reveals a harder, darker and much more edgy side to the band. Imagine full-on swampy rock colliding with…

Vampire Weekend

The Paul Simon revival, inexplicably, just might start here. Preppy New York quartet Vampire Weekend borrow elements of their sound from Afrobeat, post-punk and new wave, but the fact of four well-off white kids co-opting African rhythms can’t fail to…

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

(XL Recordings) INDIE Indie rock has taken many wilful turns in its ragged adolescence but the predilection for smartening up and tuning up has been one that’s arrived to infrequently for most. Vampire Weekend look like dropouts from an Abercrombie…

Vampire Weekend and Chutes

Hobo at the Bongo Club, Edinburgh, Sun 11 Nov The unexpectedly large Sunday night turnout here was no doubt down to the appearance of New York’s Vampire Weekend, a band much-touted by Radio One in recent weeks. Edinburgh’s Chutes weren’t just here to…