VAMPIRE WEEKEND // USHER HALL, EDINBURGH
Throw up your hands and twist your hips, Vampire Weekend are back and their bubble-gum rock is slicker than ever.
VAMPIRE WEEKEND PERFORMING AT EDINBURGH’S USHER HALL - 07.11.2019
PICTURE BY: | CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★★★ (5/5)
As the group begin their tour of new release Father of the Bride; their absence in Scotland has clearly left fans heavy-hearted. They score a huge, adoration filled crowd in the capital city’s large, classy venue the Usher Hall.
Vampire Weekend put out their fourth release, Father of the Bride, earlier in the year after the group a brief hiatus in which Rostam Batmanglij left the band. The work shows a new depth in how they compose their songs and some unexpected turns to their typical bouncy, joyous rock.
There was no support for the night but Vampire Weekend’s crowd did not need warming up as the roar sounded out as the group took to the stage and blasted out the brilliant ‘White Sky’ and ‘Holiday,’ from the brilliant, early album ‘Contra.’ They cycled between the new and old tracks with seamless ease. Their timing was succinct and front man Ezra Koenig looked in merry spirits as he addressed the fans and spoke of the length of time they had been away from the country. The cheer was everywhere and it clearly people were ecstatic to see them return on such form. It’s hard not to smile when an effortlessly uplifting tracks like ‘Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa’ were performed with such energy and unity.
Their new release shone brightly throughout the night. The played the edgy ‘How Long?’ and then ‘Unbearably White’ slowed down the pace with like a long hug. An atmosphere of warmth embraced attendees for the evening. The trippy, extended version of ‘Sunflower’ clearly shows the band’s experimentation with psychedelic flavourings. ‘This Life’ could easily become one of Vampire Weekend’s most beloved tracks and their live performance of it was superb.
The group played ‘I’m Going Down,’ a Bruce Springsteen cover. Despite Koenig and Springsteen’s completely different vocals styles, Vampire Weekend delivered this track with the belly it deserves resulting in it standing out as one of the best of the night. Bassist, Christopher Baio, looked like The Boss himself, with a white, sleeveless vest, quiffed hair and rockabilly dancing from start to end. Moving in collaboration with touring guitarist Brian Robert Jones, Baio and Jones tremendously raised the energy of the crowd. They matched the light-hearted, carefree, exuberant melodies with a loose yourself in the sound vibe and it was impossible not to admire them.
The group started to close the main set with a strong run of their most classic, dynamic tracks. ‘Diane Young,’ ‘Cousins’ and ‘A-Punk’ rose the balconies to their feet and sent the standing crowd into a frenzy. They threw in an epic version of the humble ditty ‘2021’ and finished with the slightly sombre ‘Jerusalem, New York, Berlin.’ An interesting choice to end on the fresh, sobering track before coming back to reignite the fire they had created.
As part of their 5 song encore, the group took requests from the crowd. The tracks ‘Walcott’ and ‘Hanna Hunt’ were demanded. Koenig had a laugh with the crowd over their chants and it further emphasised that Vampire Weekend are a band in it for the joy of their fans. The charging ‘Worship You’ and tender and soaring ‘Ya Hey’ finished the night with an empowering blast and the auditorium was left uplifted and exulted. Vampire Weekend have return and, my word, it’s good to have them back.
SETLIST: | VAMPIRE WEEKEND : USHER HALL, EDINBURGH - 07.11.2019
White Sky
Holiday
Bambina
Sympathy
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
Unbelievers
M79
How Long?
Unbearably White
Step
Ottoman
Sunflower - (extended “Stoneflower” jam)
This Life
I’m Goin’ Down - (Bruce Springsteen cover) - (“Waka Waka” by Shakira coda)
Harmony Hall
Diane Young
Cousins
A-Punk
2021 - (extended)
California English
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
ENCORE:
Mansard Roof
Walcott - (By request girl with homemade “8 Minute Edinburgh” in Jokerman font tee)
Hannah Hunt - (By request by man in snake shirt, who had “been going hard all night”)
Worship You
Ya Hey