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SAIT JUBILEE – AUGUST 7, 2013
Toronto-based singer-songwriter Cold Specks preceded Vampire Weekend, her soulful old-South sound filling the stage with help from her four-piece band – an unusual occurrence for the usually-solo musician. The addition of tenor sax, bass and soft drums were just the perfect touch to compliment her bluesy sonics. Although incredibly shy, Cold Specks opened up to the audience a few times to tell a few awkwardly funny jokes, which helped lighten the mood, given the heady content of her lyrics.
Vampire Weekend followed Specks with a bang. They’re not just your run-of-the-mill hipster pop band, they’re a band with exceptional stage presence and absolute charisma. When Vampire Weekend played the SAIT Jubilee Auditorium on August 7, they brought with them a beautifully-wrought, florally-wallpapered backdrop with a vintage-looking Victorian mirror suspended above their drummer.
Their reggaetón- and South African-inspired guitar riffs kept the entire crowd of roughly 2,000 on their feet dancing throughout the whole show. The band’s set list was incredibly varied, beginning with a few songs from their 2010 release, Contra, including the popular “Holiday” and “Cousins,” before moving on to a single from their newest album Modern Vampires of the City, “Unbelievers.” Ezra Koenig and guitarist Chris Baio were undoubtedly the most energetic, throwing their hands up in the air and engaging their crowd. Ironically, the crowd included a large number of the baby-boomer generation gathered to hear the Paul Simon-esque melodies coming from Koenig’s enigmatic tenor voice, floating overtop Chris Tomson’s drums.
The boys had not been to Calgary since 2011 and their the absence had obviously been enough to send the crowd into a frenzy when they whipped out “A-Punk,” the most popular single from their self-titled 2007 album. While the sounds of Paul Simon were absolutely an influence – though the group may not admit it themselves – their lyrics are just as imaginative and viable for singing along, as almost every member of the crowd was doing. VW chose to play “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” as their encore, a viable choice given that their set list was kept mostly to their hits throughout the evening.
What was not surprising was Vampire Weekend’s ability to transfer their impeccable musicianship from record to live sound – their delivery was clear and pitch-perfect, while leaving room for the odd improvised note here and there. They sounded amazing (if not better) live in than in the studio, making them a definite must-see the next time they grace a YYC stage.
By Therese Schultz
Photos: Sebastian Buzzalino
