When New York buzz band Vampire Weekend played its first Pittsburgh show at the Andy Warhol Museum back in February, it was a sold-out gig limited to 100-plus people lucky enough to squeeze into the small auditorium. The demand far exceeded the supply.
The band's return trip has the look of a massive rally open to everyone. Vampire Weekend, an indie darling that describes its sound as "Upper West Side Soweto," will headine Barack the Burgh, a free concert and voter registration drive Oct. 4 from 4 to 9 p.m. at a site to be named in Oakland. Also performing will be The Superpowers and Mahogany.
While Vampire Weekend incorporates Police-like ska and the African township jive heard on Paul Simon's "Graceland," the author of Stuff White People Like declared them "the whitest band" in an interview with Salon.
Vampire has been something of a lightning rod, with their gaudy 8.8 on Pitchfork, Spin cover, preppy clothes and songs about Cape Cod. On first listen, I thought they must be kidding. Then I played it a few more times, saw them live and, ultimately, the catchiness was impossible to resist.
Looking forward to Oct. 4.
Posted
Sep 18 2008, 04:34 AM
by
Scott Mervis