Music Snitch

On the way to see Vampire Weekend play at Firestone in Orlando, I realized I had no idea if there was even an opening band. Well, unfortunately there was an opening band, Harlem Shakes. To be fair, when the music started playing, I was immediately intrigued by the tight, fresh sound but when the lead singer stepped up to the microphone it was all down hill.

It sounded like Mumbles, the character from Dick Tracy, decided to get drunk, inhale some helium and sing a song with no actual lyrics. It was difficult to appreciate the other aspects of Harlem Shakes because my ears were semi-bleeding. Oh, and my friend pointed out that the lead singer was apparently tricked into wearing the puffy pirate shirt Seinfeld loved so much.

There is not too much to say about Vampire Weekend live, besides they are good and there was certainly a lot of bouncing going on in the crowd. Koenig’s voice was crisp, the atmosphere was fun and the bass player’s funky yet totally subtle dance moves added some character. In a live setting, it is way more noticeable how short Vampire Weekend’s songs are. I personally wish they would have extended some of the songs that riled up the crowd, like A-Punk.