I lose track of whether or not it’s cool to like Vampire Weekend these days—hipsters are fickle creatures, and the backlash is firmly in motion. Opinions on the band are divided, and I’ve personally mostly been in the middle. I wasn’t crazy about their album upon first listen, but I must admit it’s grown on me. All arguments about hype and cultural appropriation aside, they make well-constructed songs that stand out, and they put their African influences to good use.
Their prep school/ivy league influence was immediately striking. Their merch booth sold ‘Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa’ scarves in the classic prep design along with the usual t-shirts, and while they might be a New York City band, every song reminded me wholly of New England instead. The sounds and content of their album bring to mind studying on the quad on the rare days the sun is out, sneaking into your dorm past curfew, crisp season changes, and old-fashioned upper-class comfort. The songs perfectly capture the curiosity and eagerness of academia, as well as the disconnect from reality that comes with campus life. The vocal stylings bring up feelings both mature and childish, calling to mind the way the same feeling of being between adolescence and adulthood in college.
When it comes to their live show, Vampire Weekend clearly has room to grow. This was most obvious in the vocals, as singer and guitarist Ezra Koenig had trouble finding and keeping his pitches, but the whole band started off the show playing a little awkwardly—the instruments just didn’t seem to blend together to form a cohesive whole. They kept the buoyancy of the songs, especially in the bass parts, but it took them a while to loosen up.
As the show progressed and they chatted more (to my delight, they mentioned their love of Kilby Court several times, as they played that venue when they came through earlier this year), Koenig gradually relaxed, improving the sound of his guitar and his voice. ‘I Stand Corrected’ was the turning point: he put his guitar down and seemed to settle into his voice, letting it come breathy and natural. He hit the hardest notes with understated confidence as opposed to forcing them, and afterwards the show went smoother and their air of self-consciousness evaporated.
They predictably closed with ‘Walcott,’ and it was by far their best number of the night. They let themselves get sloppy and forgot about being delicate or preppy, delivering a thrilling chaotic performance that swept everyone up into its momentum. I’ve often felt that the studio version of this song would grab me more if it didn’t hold back so much; the song is clearly intended to be the show-stopping, penultimate anthem in the album, but it comes off as just a little too prissy. But ‘Walcott’ live delivered just what I wanted to hear, fulfilling the same need in the audience that great live performance always does. It gives me hope that as this band matures, they’ll take their music in a direction even more engaging than their debut. The issues with their live performance will improve as they gain experience, and I look forward to what they’ll bring us next.
Boston - Vampire Weekend
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