“I don’t wanna live like this, but I don’t wanna die” – “Harmony Hall”
Vampire Weekend has been one of my favorite bands since I first discovered their debut album, shortly after it came out in 2008. From there, they’ve had a permanent spot in my Top 5 Favorite Bands list.
Towards the end of my senior year of college in 2013, I finally got a chance to see them in concert during the Modern Vampires of the City tour. We danced all night and knew every word to every song—still one of the best nights of college. Then my boys just left. They left us for six years, replaying their three albums over and over again, just waiting for something new to drop. I feel like we were teased some new music in either 2017 or 2018, but it wasn’t until January 2019 that fans were treated to the single,”Harmony Hall.” After a few more singles the album, Father of the Bride was released this May.
I had the CD—why yes I do still buy CDs—on repeat in my car for weeks. It sounded so great. Not gonna lie, I was a little nervous if it would be totally different when I heard that one of their main producers and band member Rostam Batmanglij had left the group, but it sounded just as fun and incredible as I had hoped. I bought tickets to their Florida show the morning tickets were on sale.
This was going to be my first concert by myself. I had been to comedy shows, the movies, and book events all on my own. I mean, I go to Disney by myself all the time. This was just going to be my first concert, solo. And honestly, it was kind of nice. I could leave whenever I wanted to, I didn’t have to try and talk to someone over loud music, it was so low key.
Ever since college, probably, I’ve had to sit during most shows I went to because of all my chronic pain. I would stand for some of my favorite songs and then spend the rest of the show either sitting in the seat or trying to lean on the back of the bench or chair just to relieve pressure on my back. This concert had me standing for about 75% of the show, something I haven’t done in a good six years. Every song by Vampire Weekend is just so fun and danceable and I couldn’t stop myself from dancing.
Another thing ingrained in me since going to shows with my parents all my life is to never stay for the end, so you can get a head start on the crowds and the traffic. But this show, I stayed for the final song of their almost two-hour set, and I was in heaven. It’s next to impossible to be unhappy listening to Vampire Weekend.
Whether it’s Vampire Weekend or Ariana Grande or Metallica, I wish for everyone to be able to see your favorite band or artist in concert one day. There is nothing like being brought together because of one common interest—live music, this band. It can sometimes be truly life changing.
Lindsay Glenne 