“Weekend Energy On A Tuesday Night”: Vampire Weekend’s Return To The O2 Academy Brixton

by | Dec 13, 2024

On the first of two sold-out nights at the iconic Brixton Academy, New York indie giants Vampire Weekend delivered a masterclass in endurance, evident in both the timelessness of their music and the astounding two hour and twenty minute performance.

Vampire Weekend @ Brixton Academy

Vampire Weekend @ Brixton Academy (Abigail Shii)
Vampire Weekend @ Brixton Academy (Abigail Shii)

Liverpool legends China Crisis opened the night, with a captivating set; their polished synthpop sound and melodic hooks transported the audience back to the heyday of 80s new wave, providing a graceful contrast to the set ahead.

As the lights dimmed and the crowd roared, Vampire Weekend kicked things off with the instantly recognisable Oxford Comma and proceeded to breeze through fan favourites such as Campus, Diane Young, and Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa. Frontman Ezra Koenig stood confidently against the deceptively simple backdrop featuring the band’s logo, flanked by bassist Chris Baio and drummer Chris Tomson.

The opening track from their fifth studio album Only God Was Above Us, Ice Cream Piano, began with the Chrises disappearing to leave Koenig playing solo until a dramatic curtain drop promptly cleared by workers in high-vis jackets and hard hats revealed an elaborate stage setup with more instruments and more musicians (and the Chrises).

The setlist itself was a journey through Vampire Weekend’s evolution, from the likes of the anthemic A-Punk and sparkling White Sky to 2019’s Harmony Hall and This Life, with a healthy dose of newer tracks such as Classical, Connect, and Gen-X Cops. The set closed with Hope, as one by one, each band member put down their instruments and left the stage.

But it was the encore that truly pushed the night into unforgettable territory. “We used to take Vampire Weekend requests, but that got too easy,” Koenig quipped, inviting the audience to suggest anything but their own tracks. True to his word, a delightful string of attempted covers followed, including Dire Straits’ Sultans Of Swing, Bonnie Tyler classic “powder keg” Total Eclipse Of The Heart, and Rod Stewart’s Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?, as well as Ritchie Valens’ La Bamba.

Fourteen years and a staggering fourteen covers later, Vampire Weekend’s spectacular return to the Brixton Academy ended with Worship You and the poignant Ya Hey. Winter’s cold may be too much to handle, but with their seamless blend of intellectual lyricism and infectious melodies, the band proved they could weather any musical storm.

Live review of Vampire Weekend at the O2 Academy Brixton, London by Abigail Shii on 10th December 2024.

Maestro Moby Returns To Lift Me Up At The O2

Taylor Swift @ Wembley Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

Revisit Wembley In Photos As Taylor Swift Wraps Epic 149-Date Eras Tour

You'd have to have had your head buried in the sand these past couple of years to have missed news of Taylor Swift's...
Queens Of The Stone Age @ Download Festival 2024 (Simon Reed)

The Southsea Seafront Welcomes Kings Of Leon, QOTSA, Vampire Weekend & More For Victorious Festival 2025

Set on the picturesque Southsea seafront, multi-award-winning Victorious Festival – the UK’s biggest metropolitan festival – has announced a massive billing of headliners alongside a host of amazing artists and comedians for the ultimate August Bank Holiday weekender. On top of today’s line-up announcement, day tickets have also now been released.

Albums of the Year 2024

Albums Of The Year 2024

2024 has been yet another year of fabulous new music and reimaginings of music of bygone eras brought afresh for a new...
Judas Priest @ Wembley Arena (Catherine Beltramini)

Judas Priest To Celebrate 35 Years Of Painkiller With Tour Including London Co-Headline Show With Alice Cooper

The mighty Judas Priest have announced two UK shows – a headline show at Scarborough Open Air Theatre on 23rd July with support from Phil Campbell’s Bastard Sons plus a joint headline show with the one and only Alice Cooper on 25th July at London’s O2 Arena.

Guns N' Roses @ BST Hyde Park 2023 (Kalpesh Patel)

Guns N’ Roses Announce 2025 Global Tour Including UK Dates

Guns N’ Roses stand as one of rock’s most iconic bands, known for their explosive sound, gritty lyrics, and...
James Arthur (Edward Cooke)

Multi-Platinum Artist James Arthur Announces New Album ‘PISCES’

After the overwhelming success of his chart-topping album Bitter Sweet Love, James Arthur is ready to take his fans on...
Loreen (Press)

Loreen Unveils Electrifying New Single ‘Gravity’

Multi-platinum and award-winning artist Loreen has just dropped her latest single Gravity via Promised Land Recordings. An emotive and transcendent track, Gravity captures the magnetic pull of connection and self-discovery, inviting listeners into an immersive soundscape of sultry melodies and introspective lyrics.

Girlpuppy Signs With Captured Tracks And Releases New Single ‘Champ’

Girlpuppy, the musical project from the Atlanta, GA, US singer/songwriter Becca Harvey, has shared the buzzing, resolute new single Champ, the first on new label home, Captured Tracks. Champ bursts forth with a wall of fuzzy guitars, and finds Harvey drawing inspiration from Liz Phair, My Bloody Valentine, and Alvvays among others.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing