Indie rock darlings, Vampire Weekend, have announced and expansive North American tour in support of their upcoming album, Only God Was Above Us. The band will be making a stop for two nights in Berkeley at The Greek Theatre on June 15 and 16.
Vampire Weekend formed in 2006 at Columbia University when singer-songwriter, Ezra Koenig, connected with future band members bassist Chris Baio, drummer Chris Tomson, and multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij, over a shared love for punk rock and African music. The group made waves through early singles like “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” and “A-Punk.” Their debut self-titled album, released in 2008, is often herald as one of the best debut albums of all time.
Vampire Weekend catapulted the band into the mainstream, allowing them to tour worldwide and score spots on late night shows like Saturday Night Live and The Late Show with David Letterman. They would release their follow-up record, Contra, in 2010. The album debuted number 1 on the Billboard 200. Contra saw a shift away from the world music sounds from their debut, substituting them for more experimental electronic sounds.
After an extensive world tour and brief media hiatus, Vampire Weekend released their third studio album, Modern Vampires of the City (MVOTC), in 2013. The album also debuted number 1, producing singles “Unbelievers” and “Diane Young.” The album was ranked number 328 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Following the success of MVOTC, the band went on an extended hiatus in which Batmanglij left the band. Their next record would not arrive until 2019 in the form of Father of the Bride. The album debuted number 1 and produced a Grammy win for Best Alternative Music Album in 2020.
After another extended radio silence, Koenig, Baio, and Tomson are back with their long anticipated fifth album, Only God Was Above Us, set to release on April 5. Tickets for their two night spectacular at The Greek Theatre on June 15 and 16 go on sale on Friday and will be available here
Location: The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley
Address: Hearst Greek Theatre, 2001 Gayley Rd, Berkeley, CA, 94720
Show Time: 6:30 p.m./2:00 p.m.
Doors Open: 5:00 p.m./12:30 p..m.
Ticket Price: $49.50-$99.50
Age: All Ages