Vampire Weekend courtesy Scott Newton / KLRU
Austin City Limits has built a legacy on the shoulders of outstanding musicians, namely country/folk legends and particularly those from Texas. However, as a true reflection of the diverse Austin music community, the show has expanded over the years, reaching out to a diverse array of indie-rock, punk, and avant-garde performers. Season 39 will find the show hosting an unbelievably impressive list of performers that includes The Lumineers, Grizzly Bear, and Phoenix. They kicked off the tapings for Season 39 with a performance by acclaimed indie-pop act Vampire Weekend on the final night of SXSW 2013.
Vampire Weekend courtesy Scott Newton / KLRU
The light, melodic pop of Vampire Weekend takes cues from African pop music, sounding something like a band informed primarily by Paul Simon’s Graceland. And believe me, that’s not a bad thing at all. With as much success as Vampire Weekend has seen with their blend of twinkling indie-pop and African rhythms, it’s surprising we haven’t seen more bands follow suit. Although, it seems Alt-J has recently incorporated some aspects of tribal rhythms, albeit a much darker, more foreboding recipe.
Vampire Weekend courtesy Scott Newton / KLRU
Vampire Weekend’s set exemplified live song creation as clean and crisp as on record. The set included notable favorites such as “A-Punk,” “Holiday,” “Horchata,” and “Oxford Comma.” I was particularly thrilled to hear “Giving Up the Gun” for the mere personal reason that it once appeared on a playlist I made of songs entirely about firearms. As expected from the buzz following their other SXSW appearances, the band also performed new songs “Ya Hey” and “Diane Young” from their upcoming album.
Vampire Weekend has defied odds in some senses as a band that received immediate and widespread acclaim and attention and has managed to keep the attention of fans and critics alike. Continuing their trend of dexterous, melodic pop, the band will release Modern Vampires of the City on May 6th. Now, we have not only that album to look forward to, but also the band’s impeccable taping at Austin City Limits.
