Vampire Weekend @ Central Park Summerstage

–This review is cross-posted at the soon-to-be-launched www.music-news.com USA site.–

Vampire Weekend stormed through New York City’s Central Park this past weekend, brining with them Flosstradamus female Kid Sister, Canadian rock band Born Ruffians, and Kanye’s Beatmaster General A-Trak. The rain came on harder than Summerstage host and musical utility man Andrew W.K, so let the bad weather metaphors commence. You must first understand that the day’s worth of rain came in stages. There was the calm, cool, and refreshing sprinkle that came after an hour of standing exposed in the 90 degree sun. Alternatively, there were moments when the precipitation came in excess. Coincidentally, the few hours of music pelted in audience in a similar manner.

Daily Round-Up

• Pitchfork, never disappointing, got the inside scoop on a live performance by Vampire Weekend at some exclusive room at their alma mater, Columbia University.
• We previously posted on Adele, and now she is birthing a U.S. tour [not implying a causal relationship] (MP3: Cold Shoulder)
• Peter, of the whistlin’ dixies PeterBjornandJohn, stopped into the Daytrotter studios to lay down some “drum and bass shit.“
• iguessi’mfloating, a great mp3 blog (although a little sporadic on posting lately), has been nailing me with unbelievable songs lately.  Check ‘em out
  • Spoon-Don’t You Evah (Ted Leo’s I Want It Hotter Remix)
  • Barenaked Ladies violating Public Enemy’s classic “Fight the Power”
  • Lupe Fiasco-Superstar (Live/Acoustic

MP

Good News for New York

Slow posting lately, was in Washington, D.C., Jumpin’ at Capitol…

• Madonna will be playing a so-called “intimate” show at the 3,000 capacity Roseland Ballroom on April 30. (MP3: Hung Up (Diplo Remix)
• Via Brooklyn Vegan, Vampire Weekend and Crosby, Stills, and Nash will be among the performers at Central Park’s Summerstage series these coming months. (VW MP3: Punk Your Mind (Vampire Weekend vs. Styles P); CSN&Y MP3: Suite Judy Blue Eyes)
• …and not New York, but check out Spoon’s interview with Pitchfork, then download this MP3: You Got Yr Cherry Bomb Demo (5 points to anyone who can name the jazz standard played at the end of the mp3.)

Bonnaroo line up announced

Hot on the heels of Coachella, Bonnaroo has released their booked acts thus far, and given the choice, I would definitely opt for B-Roo.  Headliners are Pearl Jam, Metallica, Jack Johnson, and Kanye West.  I’m still holding out for Austin City Limits before deciding which fest to DEFINITELY attend, but after the jump are the top 11 acts of the upcoming Bonnaroo festival, with select MP3s at the bottom.

Vampire Weekend @ Bowery Ballroom (pics)

Brooklyn Vegan has pictures from Vampire Weekend’s Bowery Ballroom performance two nights ago.  I found out about this band a few months ago, and their stock has shot up immensely since.  They start a national tour now that takes them all the way to Coachella.  For those who haven’t heard the band, it is definitely worth your time to take ten minutes out of your day and check out the MP3s below.  (Disclaimer: Those ten minutes could turn into a much longer time if you dig the songs as much as I do.

Buy Vampire Weekend

MP3: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

MP3: Oxford Comma