Song of the Day: Vampire Weekend – A-Punk

Vampire Weekend @ Friction, The Delancey, NYC 3/8/07
photo by Crackers United

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Morning Show host John Richards, is A-Punk by Vampire Weekend from their 2007 self-released demo, Vampire Weekend, sometimes known as the “Blue CD-R.”

Vampire Weekend consists of Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Christopher Tomson, and Chris Baio, four Columbia University graduates, who made it their mission to combine seemingly incongruous genres such as afrobeat, punk, and classical, bringing to mind the east-meets-west renditions of artists like Paul Simon, the Police, and Talking Heads. Named after an unfinished movie Koenig started one college summer, Vampire Weekend has managed to heap much praise on themselves and cement a full US tour, all without the assistance of a label. Many a chat has been had over the last few months and depending on who they sign with, an official release may surface early next year. Currently, a three-song EP is available for digital download from Other Music, with one additional song streaming on their MySpace page.

On July 22, KEXP is sponsoring Vampire Weekend at Neumo’s, with Cantona and Shorthand for Epic. Stay tuned for more information.

Here is a very informal performance of Oxford Comma: