Vampire Weekend, photo by Heather Kaplan

It’s been 10 years since Vampire Weekend first melted the hearts of both critics and fans with their self-titled debut. And yet, it’s been roughly half that time since we last heard anything new from the New York outfit (see: 2013’s Modern Vampires of the City). That all changes soon as singer-songwriter Ezra Koenig insists he’s standing at the endzone on their long-awaited follow-up and they have some crucial festival gigs lined up.

(Read: How Vampire Weekend Burned Off the Bush Era)



Tonight, following a couple of warm-up gigs at the Largo in Los Angeles, the group finally made its proper return at the Libbey Bowl in Ojai, California. Despite being moments away from their new LP, Koenig and co. relished the past by opening the set with a full performance of their 2008 self-titled debut, going from “Mansard Roof” all the way to “Walcott”. Jealous? No worries. One of their fans captured most of it.

Watch below and consult the full setlist shortly after. Other setlist highlights included Koenig’s collaboration with SBTRKT, “New Dorp. New York”; Koenig’s collaboration with iLoveMakonnen, “Down 4 So Long”; and the live debut of “Worship You” from Modern Vampires of the City.

Saturday also makred our first look at the band’s expanded touring lineup, which sees Koenig, drummer Chris Thompson, and bassist Chris Baio joined on stage by Greta Morgan (Springtime Carnivore), who will be playing keys, vocals, and guitar, and Brian Robert Jones (Human Natural), who will be playing guitar.

Setlist:

Mansard Roof

Oxford Comma

A-Punk

Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

M79

Campus

Bryn (First time live since 2011)

One (Blake’s Got a New Face)

I Stand Corrected

Walcott

The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance (First time live since 2012)

White Sky

Step

Right Down the Line (Gerry Rafferty cover)

New Dorp. New York (SBTRKT cover) (Live debut)

Hannah Hunt

Down 4 So Long / Tuesday (iLoveMakonnen cover) (Live debut)

Diane Young

Encore:

Ottoman

Worship You (Live debut)

Ya Hey