The band’s forthcoming album ‘Only God Was Above Us’ arrives in April
Having ended a half decade of anticipation with last week’s album announcement, Ezra Koenig, Chris Baio and Chris Tomson p/k/a Vampire Weekend now fill that void with “Capricorn” and “Gen-X Cops,” a double portion of first tastes of the anxiously awaited album, Only God Was Above Us. The album arrives on April 5 through Columbia Records.
The newly released pair of advance tracks showcase distinctly different aspects of Only God Was Above Us, while feeling very much parts of the same whole. “Capricorn,” written by Ezra Koenig and produced by Ariel Rechtstaid and Koenig, begins on a deceptively subdued note, its honeyed melodies and arpeggiated keys launching into a transcendent chorus featuring a maelstrom of distorted guitars and vibrant drum fills. “Gen-X Cops,” co-written by Koenig and Chris Tomson, and produced by Rechtstaid, Koenig and Tomson, kicks off with a frantic guitar figure befitting a title lifted from a 1990s Hong Kong action movie, and rides a jaunty beat to an anthemic refrain of “Each generation makes its own apology.”
Each of the new tunes is accompanied by a new video built around footage of New York circa 1988 by Only God Was Above Us album art photographer Steven Siegel. Directed by longtime Vampire Weekend creative director Nick Harwood, “Capricorn” is a visual journey to late ‘80s New York City that showcases the alluring yet grimy era of the city— before breaking to modern day Vampire Weekend. “Gen-X Cops,” directed by Drew Pearce (The Fall Guy, Hotel Artemis, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Iron Man 3), takes a decidedly different route to authenticity, utilizing the exact film-stocks Siegel used in 1988, and tracking down the only authentic 1970s New York subway car on the west coast. Pearce and DP Doug Emmett then meticulously researched the actual light patterns of 1980s subway tunnels in order to build a rig that would emulate them as well as shooting “Gen-X Cops” on 8mm and 16mm cameras to ensure maximum precision.
Stream both tracks below now.
Additionally, Vampire Weekend have confirmed a full scale North American headline tour. The 39-date trek follows a select few previously announced festival headlines, a sold out show in the shadow of the solar eclipse, and will include three unique two-show engagements that will see Vampire Weekend play Saturday night shows followed by Sunday morning sets at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, California, KettleHouse Amphitheater in Bonner, Montana and New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Check out the full tour itinerary below.
Fans are encouraged to sign up now for early access to the band’s pre-sales. Those pre-sales start Wednesday, February 21 at 10am local time. The general on sale will begin Friday, February 23 at 10am local time.Citi is the official card of the Vampire Weekend Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, February 20 at 10am local time until Thursday, February 22 at 10pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program.
The all-new Only God Was Above Us will be available digitally, and physically on CD, standard black vinyl, limited edition clear vinyl on the band’s web store, and with an alternate album cover available exclusively at Independent retailers. Fans can pre-order here.
Support acts for Vampire Weekend’s upcoming tour have been hand-picked and carefully curated by Koenig, Baio and Tomson. Every region of the country will be treated to their own very special guests — several of whom hold local significance —all of whom are beloved by the band. Those guests include: LA LOM, The English Beat, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Mike Gordon, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Ra Ra Riot, Princess featuring Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum, Cults, a DJ Set By Mark Ronson, Turnstiles and The Brothers Macklovitch. Please refer to the tour poster for more information on which acts will appear on which dates.
Mon April 8 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater (Solar Eclipse) – SOLD OUT
Sat April 27 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival*
Fri May 10 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Block Party*
Thu May 30 – Barcelona, Espana – Primavera Sound*
Thu June 6 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
Fri June 7 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Sun June 9 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Mon June 10 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
Wed June 12 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
Sat June 15 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre at U.C. Berkeley
Sun June 16 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre at U.C. Berkeley (Matinee Show)
Tue June 18 – Burnaby, BC – Deer Lake Park
Wed June 19 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Thu June 20 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Sat June 22 – Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater
Sun June 23 – Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater (Matinee Show)
Fri July 19 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Mon July 22 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
Tue July 23 – Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Theater
Thu July 25 – Maryland Heights, MO – Saint Louis Music Park
Fri July 26 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Sat July 27 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Tue July 30 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
Thu August 1 – Milwaukee, WI – BMO Pavilion
Sat August 3 – St. Charles, IA – Hinterland*
Thu September 19 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Fri September 20 – Cincinnati, OH – The ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park
Sat September 21 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
Mon September 23 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
Tue September 24 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Wed September 25 – Laval, QC – Place Bell
Fri September 27 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Sat September 28 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at The Mann
Mon September 30 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
Wed October 02 – Charlottesville, VA – Ting Pavilion
Sat October 5 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Sun October 6 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (Matinee Show)
Tue October 8 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion
Wed October 9 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
Fri October 11 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
Sat October 12 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
Sun October 13 – Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit
Tue October 15 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Thu October 17 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
*Festival
Tickets will be available HERE