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Vampire Weekend at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, BC – Gallery

Published

3 months ago

June 19, 2024

On June 18, Vampire Weekend brought their Only God Is Above Us Tour to Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, BC.

Mike Gordon (from PHISH) captivated early arrivers with a versatile performance that drew from rock, funk, and jam band influences. His stage presence and chemistry with his band made the set engaging for everyone.

Under a golden-hour sun, indie pop and rock group Vampire Weekend, formed at Columbia University in 2006, consisting of frontman Ezra Koenig, bassist Chris Baio, and drummer Chris Tomson, alongside their backing band, mixed tracks from their new album with hits from previous ones in a dynamic 30-song set.

The concert kicked off energetically with “Mansard Roof” from their self-titled debut album, and “Cousins” from their 2010 album “Contra”. Koenig, dressed in a pale gray jumpsuit, engaged playfully with the audience during “Cousins.” The upbeat vibe continued with “Campus”. The 3 OG members stood in front of giant Vampire Weekend sheet for these 3 songs. During “Ice Cream Piano”, the sheet dropped to reveal four additional touring band members and a cavernous backdrop. Right after, “Classical” served us an expressive dance solo.

Peppered throughout the set were tracks from the new album, Only God Was Above Us, which translated beautifully to the stage, sounding grander than on the on the tightly produced studio recording.

The main set ended with a reimagined “Hope,” featuring Koenig’s evocative vocals and dramatic lighting. The encore included audience-suggested covers of The Killers, ABBA, AC/DC, and Bruce Springsteen, before concluding with “Workship You” and “Ya Hey”.

From the start to the encore, the band commanded the stage with ease. Koenig’s vocals were clear and playful, supported by Baio, Tomson. The chemistry among the band members was palpable, with each song reflecting their almost two-decades journey of perfecting their craft and evolving their sound. Vampire Weekend’s performance showcased their musical talent and endurance. The two-hour show kept the audience engaged and moving, demonstrating the band’s ability to create an immersive and memorable concert experience.