Beginning and Hype
Ezra Koenig and Chris Tomson shared liking for the African music and punk rock which motivated them to form a band. They were joined by Chris Baio and Rostam Batmanglij and the quartet performed at various university gigs and hit some other venues. Koenig inspired the band to include bits of African beats in their core rock sound to prepare their early songs. In 2007, with a handful of original songs, the band toured the UK with the music group, The Shins.
Few shows in the country created buzz about the band even before they released their debut album. One of the group’s initial songs was Cape Code Kwassa Kwassa that became very popular. By the end of 2007, the band had gained a cult following and they were ready to release their first studio record.
Commercial Prominence
Combining some of their old songs with the new ones, Vampire Weekend came up with their self-titled debut in January 2008. The album peaked at 17th on the Billboard 200 and also charted at various international music charts. Hits such as A-Punk and Oxford Comma helped in introducing the band’s style to the masses and also earned them mainstream success. The album also won the band their first NME Award for the ‘Best New American Alternative/Indie Band’.
Consistent Success and Touring
In January 2010, Vampire Weekend released their second critically acclaimed record, Contra. The album presented a fresh take on their sound and included hits like Cousins, Giving Up the Gun and Holiday. It topped the Billboard 200 besides earning raving reviews from the critics. The album was also nominated for a Grammy and the song, ‘Giving Up the Gun’ won a Q Award.
Vampire Weekend launched a tour in Canada and Europe and also headlined a number of music festivals in the US. Among others, their live performances at the Coachella, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Glastonbury, Oxygen and Latitude Festivals helped them to expand their loyal fan following. Embarking on their North American tour in later months of 2010, the group played their live shows with the bands, Dum Dum Girls and Beach House. Shooting sales of Vampire Weekends tickets made their tour one of the most successful concert series of the year.
In 2011, the band returned to the studio to record their third album. The sound of the album was described as "dark and organic" that somehow freed their songs from the label of "percussive and African based rhythms". Released in May 2013, Modern Vampires of the City became their second Billboard 200 chart topper and turned out to be a top ten record in UK, Australia and Ireland. The band went on their 2013 world tour to share this success with the fans.
Vampire Weekend Live
Featuring some of their greatest hits, Vampire Weekend’s concerts are packed with their spunky stage presence and harmony. The band is taking their live shows to different cities around the world besides packing slots at major music festivals. Attend one of their upcoming shows in your town for a great time.