Live Music Spotlight ::: Vampire Weekend at The Fox Theatre

Vampire Weekend

w. Jacuzzi Boys

Monday 05/05/14

Fox Theatre

Atlanta, GA

One thing is certain, Vampire Weekend fans know their lyrics. This entire sold out show was singalong 4,700 concert goers strong. This made for a great atmosphere that felt like a full on party. The mood was set from the beginning as the Brooklyn quartet came out to Drake's 'Worst Behavior'. In late 2013 Ezra Koenig reviewed the Canadian hip hop artist's latest release Nothing Was the Same for The Talkhouse. 

One song Koenig did listen to though was “Worst Behaviour” and was particularly taken by a specific line: the “motherf*****s never loved us” one.

“It really struck a chord,” Koenig explains. “There are SO many motherf*****s out there. I’ve been making music since I was seven years old (started with piano) so I’ve been betrayed more times than I can count. You know how many people talk s*** behind your back and then try to be your best friend over the course of 22 years in the industry?? Drake only got into music like five years ago, so if you see how angry he is — IMAGINE HOW I FEEL.” 

The overall review made headlines on music blogs, becoming more of a story than it was. It's awesome and laughable that they come out to this song, as it is a great mood setter, the band has had many questions as they took a meteoric rise, and it's a kind of wink and nod at the whole thing. 

After taking the stage and a quick lap around, the group quickly broke into their first single, 'Diane Young',  off their latest critically acclaimed album Modern Vampires of the City, which received 2013's best album of the year from multiple publications including Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and Slant Magazine. This was a song, as well traveled and rehearsed as they are, we wondered how well it would come across live with the voice inflections and modulations. That turned out to be a silly question as it blew the roof off and set the night into a furious dance party. 

As they did for most of the night, the baroque rock group jumped  between their three albums with White Sky coming next off their sophomore release Contra. This song had more energy live thank comes across your home speakers. You didn't have to wait for the first lyrics, "As a young girl" to come from Ezra's lips to get a feverish response from the crowd, as many of their songs do, the opening guitar riff sets about a chain reaction. This was the case for 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa'. Returning to their newer material with 'Unbelievers' (video below). The theme heavy song was a fan favorite. As lead singer Ezra Koenig told NME: "Even though that song has some heavy themes about trying to figure out your place in the world and what you believe in and how your beliefs affect your relationships to other people, we don't mind goofing off a little bit." 

Follow us after the jump to see more from Vampire Weekend's Atlanta show, setlist, and future US tour dates!

As much as we've listened to and have enjoyed the group's eight year career, you forget how many hits they have had. The band's unique crossover popularity between indie, pop, and commercialization gives them a lot of airplay and popularity. 

As most concerts at the Fox Theatre do, this show had a great lighting and effects. The backdrop included Four alabaster Corinthian half columns floating above the stage with with a flower filled tapestry accented by a single round mirror that double as a effects screen for a handful of songs.

The concert slowed and hearts swooned as the Ivy-League group serenaded the crowd that echoed back every verse. After another singalong with 'Horchata' Ezra, in his camo and puppydog clad shorts, and company got the crowd clapping to their instrumental version of LMFAO's 'Shots'. With the crowd invested the band laid into 'Everlasting Arms' as Ezra did his back and forth rocking dance. 

As you can see in the video below the well known guitar riff again set the wheels in motion for the crowd to go wild as 'Cousins' started up.

Another voice altered song, 'California English' came across flawlessly live. Throughout the show the individual talents of the four members Ezra on guitarist/keyboardist and backing vocalist Rostam Batmanglij, drummer and percussionist Chris Tomson and bassist and backing vocalist Chris Baio were on full display. Their musical abilities truly shown all night, but were showcased during the stretch of hits 'A-Punk', 'Ya Hey', 'Campus', and the always exciting 'Oxford Comma' (video below).

The main set closed out with two emotion filled songs to wind us down into the encore intermission, 'Giving Up the Gun' and 'Obvious Bicycle'. During 'Giving Up the Gun' the accent mirror came to life following the keys and drums of the chorus in what appeared to be a subway tunnel as the Fox was illuminated in red. 

After a short intermission littered with 'Olé, Olé, Olé' and Atlanta's concert patented tomahawk chop enticed the group to reappear and grace us with a grand finale. One of the biggest surprises of the night was the amazing reception 'Hannah Hunt' received as it was a darkened venue wide karaoke session that even seemed to surprise the stars of the night. This was followed up with the synthy-keyboard laden One (Blake's Got a New Face) that had the crowed echoing the lively chorus. The show closed out with 'Walcott' appropriately enough as it's an all hands on deck song that brings out heavy instrumentals from all involved.

Generally we're not super high on bands that perform the same cookie cutter sets night in and night out. In some cases the band has a limited selection, in others its comfortability, but in the case of Vampire Weekend it's apparent they've mastered the perfect balance between their discography and a setlist that creates positive waves throughout their show.   

Setlist 

Intro Song Worst Behavior (Drake)

1. Diane Young

2. White Sky

3. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

4. Unbelievers

5. Holiday

6. Step

7. Finger Back

8. I Stand Corrected

9. Horchata

10. Everlasting Arms (w. Shots intro)

11. Cousins

12. California English

13. A-Punk

14. Ya Hey

15. Campus

16. Oxford Comma

17. Giving Up the Gun

18. Obvious Bicycle

Encore

19. Hannah Hunt

20. One (Blake's Got a New Face)

21. Walcott

Outro Song New York New York (Frank Sinatra)

Remaining North American Tour
Free Press Summer Festival
May 31-June 1 ::: Free Press Summer Festival ::: Houston, TX
June 1 ::: Diamond Ballroom ::: Oklahoma City, OK
June 2 ::: Crossroads KC ::: Kansas City, MO
June 4 ::: BMO Harris Pavillion ::: Milwaukee, WI
June 5 ::: Meadow Brook Music Fest ::: Rochester Hills, MI
June 6-8 ::: Governor's Ball ::: New York, NY
June 9 ::: Buffalo Outer Harbor ::: Buffalo, NY
June 10 ::: Ntelos Wireless Pavilion ::: Charlottesville, VA
June 12 ::: Red hat Amphitheater ::: Raleigh, NC
June 14 ::: Bonnaroo ::: Machester, TN