Ezra Koenig: Last News

Vampire Weekend’s ‘Modern Vampires Of The City’ album, a decade after it was first released.The frontman took to social media yesterday (May 14) to discuss the impact of the album, and provide fans with an insight into the writing and recording process the band went through at the time.Released back in 2013, the album was the third full-length LP to be released by the band, and featured fan favourites including ‘Unbelievers’, ‘Step’ and ‘Diane Young’. Now, a decade after its launch, Koenig has listed the reasons why he thinks the album “still means something to people”.“MVOTC is ten years old.

Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig has recalled how he had real concerns of being a “one-hit wonder” during the early part of their career.The band enjoyed huge success with their self-titled 2008 debut album after their second single ‘A-Punk’ went to Number 12 in the official UK singles chart.That album, which also spawned the likes of ‘Mansard Roof’ and ‘Oxford Comma’, peaked at Number 15 in the UK album chart and Number 17 in the Billboard, earning them slots at major festivals including Glastonbury.Despite enjoying their early success, Koenig told Rick Rubin on his podcast Tetragrammaton: “Going round the world obviously was pretty novel and then the shows getting bigger and bigger. If I really think back to that time, I think I was equally excited by our success and equally wounded by my first taste of criticism and becoming a public facing person.“I didn’t really know how to roll with the punches so even if I didn’t sit in anger necessarily all the time, of course like anybody I’d read some review or some hate and be like, ‘They don’t know the first thing about me’.

Rashida Jones has been dating Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig for years and she’s sharing an update on their relationship status.

Vampire Weekend were taking requests at their Houston show this week, leading to them attempting covers of Oasis and Phoenix – check out the footage below.The New York band were kicking off their North American tour in the Texan city on Thursday (June 6), in support of new album ‘Only God Was Above Us’.Returning for their encore, they took requests for Phoenix’s ‘1901’, Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’ and Crowded House’s ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’. The performances were impromptu as they tackled songs they had never played before, and hence were left somewhat incomplete, but as you can see from the footage, both band and audience were enjoying the moment.Super fun encore at @vampireweekend’s first tour stop in Houston last night.

Phoenix‘s Thomas Mars and Sofia Coppola’s daughter, Romy Mars has surprise released her debut EP ‘Stuck Up’.The release features two songs including the title track and a song called ‘From A Distance’. You can listen to both below.According to the credits on Spotify, the EP was produced by Claud, a 25-year old singer-songwriter signed to Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records.

Vampire Weekend‘s Ezra Koenig recently joined Phoenix on stage during their set at this year’s edition of Just Like Heaven festival.While performing at the indie festival at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, Thomas Mars and co. brought out Koenig towards the end of their set as a surprise guest.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Vampire Weekend’s matinee concert Monday in Austin was the ultimate ADHD-friendly show. Did you want to watch the band, in its first show back after a year-and-a-half break from touring, and a much longer absence in the States? That was an event unto itself, and a good enough reason for an easy sellout of the 5,000-capacity Moody Amphitheater.

Vampire Weekend have played a special gig to mark the recent total solar eclipse – see what surprises the band had in store below.Last night, the New York band took to the stage at the scenic Moody Amphitheater in Austin, Texas at approximately 6pm BST and played through the solar eclipse, treating those in attendance to a handful of surprises from debuting new songs live and special guests joining them for covers.Kicking off with Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Total Eclipse of The Heart’ playing on the speakers as the band took to the stage, they opened the show with the live debut of ‘Ice Cream Piano’, off their newly released album ‘Only God Was Above Us’.Other songs from ‘Only God Was Above Us’ that got their live debuts during Vampire Weekend’s special eclipse gig include ‘Connect’, ‘Gen-X Cops’, and album closer ‘Hope’. ‘Hope’ was performed after the band took a break to watch the eclipse with those in attendance.Absolutely unbelievable moment.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music A major problem with early success is getting past it — case in point, the cheerful bop of Vampire Weekend’s first two albums and their image as peppy college boys who’d studied Paul Simon’s “Graceland” like a James Joyce masters’ thesis, playing their jaunty global pop to deliriously skanking millennials at seemingly every music festival of the latter aughts. And although that take was understandable — if unfairly reductive — at the time, VW is now a very different band.

It’s April already - wherever did the time go? However, following the clocks changing last weekend, we’re starting to see the days get longer and brighter, filling us with greater hope and enthusiasm for the next few months ahead.

Vampire Weekend have teased a new offshoot project with an “imaginary backstory”.In a New York Times profile, the band revealed they had created an offshoot project with the remaining founding members Ezra Koenig, Chris Baio, and Chris Tomson. The project began during the summer of 2020, where the band would do weekly jams and recorded “hundreds of hours of music”.“The world had stopped working and a lot of what we normally do was just not being done,” Tomson said.

Vampire Weekend have shared their latest single ‘Classical’, the third offering from their upcoming album ‘Only God Was Above Us‘.Written by frontman Ezra Koenig, produced by Ariel Rechtshaid (Haim, Sky Ferreira) and Koenig and featuring an orchestral arrangement by Will Canzoneri, Koenig and Rechtshaid, the track highlights a whimsical beat against lyrics such as: “I know that walls fall, shacks shake / Bridges burn and bodies break / It’s clear something’s gonna change,” asking the question “And when it does, which classical remains?”Directed by Vampire Weekend’s longtime creative director Nick Harwood, the track’s accompanying music video sees the band alongside Rechtshaid, Ray Suen and their drum tech Josh Goldsmith on the guitar playing the song against a green screen with fresco paintings, churches and clocks behind them.‘Classical’ follows the two previously released singles ‘Capricorn’ and ‘Gen-X Cops’. All three tracks will be featured on the band’s fifth LP ‘Only God Was Above Us‘, which is set for release on April 5 via Columbia.

Vampire Weekend have launched a new podcast called ‘Vampire Campfire’ today (March 7) – check it out below.The podcast, hosted by the band’s Ezra Koenig, Chris Baio and Chris Tomson,‌ comes ahead of the band releasing their fifth studio album, ‘Only God Was Above Us’, which arrives on April 5 via Columbia. You can pre-order/pre-save it here.A statement about the new podcast series says it will be “released semi-regularly for the foreseeable future” and fans who watch will be “invited behind the scenes into a longstanding and formerly private Vampire Weekend ritual: the frequent campfire chats where Baio, CT and Koenig convene to discuss and brainstorm all things Vampire Weekend – and so much more.”Fans have also been told that there will be Vampire Weekend ‘Easter Eggs’ on the podcast and they will be given “advance insights” into the band’s new album.The statement added: “[Fans] will be invited to witness…the band members reminisce about the past and discuss important matters in the present, ranging from tour openers, set lists and the potential of a future album called ‘The 40-Year-Old Email’, to such controversial topics as the dominant type of taco shell and The Real World vs Road Rules.“Future episodes will see the band delve deeper into the new album and will feature some very special guests.”‌Check out the first podcast episode here:Following on from 2019’s ‘Father Of The Bride’, Vampire Weekend’s first full-length album project in five years was recorded all over the world, from Manhattan to Los Angeles to London and Tokyo.

Vampire Weekend just announced they’re heading out their 43-concert ‘Only God Was Above Us Tour’ this spring, summer and fall with special guests Mark Ronson, Princess featuring Maya Rudolph, Ra Ra Riot, Turnstiles, The English Beat and more to celebrate the band’s upcoming fifth studio album, due out April 5.Toward the end of the nationwide run, Ezra Koenig and co. are slated to bring their impeccable indie rock to New York City for two back-to-back gigs at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Oct.

Harry Styles has spent his Sunday afternoon in the stands at Luton Town’s Kenilworth Road watching them take on Manchester United alongside Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig.The two singers appear to have been in attendance at the invitation of Rob Stringer, who is the chairman of Sony Music Group and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, as well as being one of the directors of Luton Town FC.Both Styles and Vampire Weekend are signed to Columbia Records, which in turn is owned by Sonic Music Entertainment.Sky sports fixated on Harry Styles but failing to notice Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend AT KENILWORTH ROAD!!! pic.twitter.com/QCekBCD6cN— James Allen (@JamesAllen27) February 18, 2024Good to see you, @Harry_Styles!

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Vampire Weekend has announced a 2024 tour in support of their forthcoming album “Only God Above Us,” in addition to releasing the album’s first two singles “Capricorn” and “Gen-X Cops.” After the album’s arrival on April 5, the North American jaunt will kick off on Apr. 8 in Austin, TX, and make stops in more than 35 cities such as Los Angeles, Berkeley, Seattle, Cincinnati, Toronto, Boston, New York and Atlanta.

Vampire Weekend‘s new album is inspired by raga and “close to being done” according to drummer Chris Tomson.The band last released an album with 2019’s ‘Father of the Bride’ and recently announced a new vinyl-only live album series.In a newsletter revealing the news, Thomson shared what frontman Ezra Koenig has been up to since the band’s ‘Father Of The Bride’ tour finished, and what it could mean for the new material.“Ezra [Koenig] took a raga singing lesson with Terry Riley in rural Japan and wrote what he considers to be 7 of his all-time top 10 best songs,” he added.Discussing how the band were then able “to connect, jawbone, and jam” together, Thomson said: “I personally found an immense peace and pleasure from creating with the guys like we had in the Ruggles days. The vibe was strong.”He added that the album is “close to done,” with Thomson promising updates before the end of the year and saying: “I feel like it just might be our best yet.

Vampire Weekend have announced a series of limited vinyl-only live albums with the release already selling out its 2,500 copies.The first release of the series titled ‘Frog On The Bass Drum Vol. 01 Live In Indianapolis’ was made up of recordings from the band’s June 2019 show in Indianapolis, Minnesota. It was limited to 2,500 copies and included their 10-minute cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘Jokerman’.

Gogglebox star Ellie Warner has welcomed her first child with boyfriend Nat Eddlestone and their son's name has a very sweet meaning behind it. On Friday night's episode of Gogglebox fans were delighted when Ellie, 32 introduced her newborn on the Channel 4 show, holding her son in the opening moments of the episode. Just a few minutes before the show aired, the new mum had revealed her son's name for the first time on Instagram.

Phoenix have shared a new version of their track ‘After Midnight’, featuring Clairo.The original song appears on the French band’s seventh studio album ‘Alpha Zulu’, which came out last November.The band teased the new version earlier this week, taking to social media on March 13 to share a brief clip of a revamped take on the tune. The file name in the video reads ‘After Midnight ft.??.wav’, confirming that a collaboration was incoming.The special guest has now been confirmed as Clairo, which marks the second time the band have had a guest feature, following last year’s ‘Tonight’ with Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig.“We’ve loved Claire since day 1,” Phoenix said in a statement.

Phoenix have released an updated version of their song "After Midnight" featuring Clairo. The original recording of the track appeared on the French band's 2022 album Alpha Zulu.