SOLD OUT - Vampire Weekend

They may not have had a Best New Artist Grammy nomination, but it’d be hard to refute New York’s Vampire Weekend as one of 2008’s greatest breakthroughs. Their self-titled debut landed on many a year-end top album list, and review after review praised the band’s interesting approach to African- and classical-inspired indie rock. Like many a buzz band before them, Vampire Weekend seemed destined to meet an early death from excessive media hype — but clearly, they’ve dodged that fate. Maybe it has something to do with that whole vampire eternal life thing. Or perhaps they just make really good music that you want to listen to over and over.

The band's debut quickly propelled these preppy, precocious and playful Ivy Leaguers to the big leagues. Pitchfork described the album as “nothing but warm, airy, low-gimmick pop, peppy, clever, and yes, unpretentious … one of the most refreshing and replayable indie records in recent years.” Vampire Weekend is touring in support of their second studio album 'Contra'. In their review of the new album, the LA Times said "Beneath the Wes Anderson-style production design, though, "Contra" reveals a newly sentimental streak, as Koenig grapples with the kinds of topics rock 'n' roll was invented to address: growing up, moving away, falling in (and out) of love. It's music that balances with uncommon elegance the desire to observe with the need to engage."