Vampire Weekend’s self-titled debut was one of the most singular and (already) one of the most enduring of its era, hitting like a cool breeze with its immaculate songcraft, Afro-pop influence, and upbeat feel immediately setting them apart from their peers.
As a live act, they’re less delicate and fussy. While hardly turning into a garage band, they’re a little louder and looser and the songs lose nothing for it.
A band with a more pronounced garage influence are fresh-faced opening act Sures, whose songs of jangly simplicity have a winning energy ands a faint surf rock influence.
‘Stars’, the title track from their promising EP of the same name, is probably the pick of a strong set of spirited guitar pop. Their set also takes in the melancholy pop genius of Kylie Minogue’s ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’, proving again that a great melody can be moulded to any number of guises.
They’re a band on the up and tonight’s effort will do their growing reputation absolutely no harm.
Anticipation has built to fever pitch by the time the headliners begin with ‘Cousins’, which benefits from a relaxed feel but loses none of the precise stop-start rhythms that feature in many Vampire Weekend songs.
With an audience that seemingly all know every word to every song, there’s also a lot of material from second album Contra, a more expansive and less immediate record than their debut, but still hugely melodic, as seen on the likes of ‘California English’ and ‘Diplomat’s Son’.
Then there’s the handsome keyboard line in ‘M79’, a reminder that singer/songwriter Ezra Koenig isn’t the only genius in this band – Rostam Batmanglij’s contributions on keys go way beyond adding texture and are often just as just as hooky as the vocal melodies.
The set seems so unreasonably packed with hits and coulda-been-hits that it’s amazing to think they’re only two albums into their career. It’s hard to think of a middling Vampire Weekend song, such is their impeccable quality control.
Not only are their songs consistently catchy, they’re also uniformly upbeat as proven as they continue with the typically clever ‘Oxford Comma’ and the resurgent ‘A-Punk’.
Few bands sketch out such a vivid, well-realised world, all preppy designer clothes, exotic drinks, architectural flourishes, and Ivy League college detail.
There’s something precious about them sure, but who needs grit when you’ve got tunes like this?
‘Horchata’, featuring a characteristically quirky lyrical flourish (“I’d look psychotic in a balaclava”) goes down a treat. ‘Campus’ soon follows, perhaps the pinnacle of their winsome charm, its summery feel a perfect evocation of carefree college days.
Every band claims to have some special affinity with Australia, but this time it just about feels genuine, with Koenig talking about dropping in on friends at the Sydney Opera House (presumably Dirty Projectors, who he once played saxophone with) and promising a return visit.
There’s a brand new song as well, the first ever airing of ‘Arms’, which suggests that their forthcoming album will explore new territory, coming across as more spacious and measured than their usual tight pop songs.
Tonight also sees the debut Australian appearance of ‘I Think Ur A Contra’, before ‘Giving Up The Gun’, pairing a funky, skittering rhythm with an irresistibly buoyant melody.
An encore is completely inevitable of course, but no less welcome, with Batmanglij and bass player Chris Baio suddenly animated and jumping round stage as they launch into a sing-along version of ‘One (Blake’s Got a New Face)’.
The polished pop of ‘Mansard Roof’ follows, before they close with their usually final song ‘Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa’.
It’s emblamatic Vampire Weekend in many ways, a bittersweet kiss-off to their New England roots which plays as a joyous, uniting sing-along pop song. For a set jam-packed full of mood-lifting pop gems, it’s a most fitting farewell.
