Over the weekend, the talented indie rockers Vampire Weekend graced the stage as musical guests on Saturday Night Live’s top-rated late-night show. Hosted by the hilarious Maya Rudolph, it marked the band’s fourth overall appearance on the show and the first in eleven years. The New York-based band performed two songs from their latest album, ‘Only God Was Above”Us’—’Gen-X Cops’ and ‘Apricorn’—to a delighted audience. The band’s performance was enhanced by producer Ariel Rechtshaid, who played the guitar alongside frontman Ezra Koenig and his bandmates. The band brought a beautiful piano on stage for their performance of ‘Gen-X Cops’, which added a unique touch to their sound. A string section was added for ‘Capricorn’, creating an atmospheric, enchanting effect.
The album itself has been praised for its artistic and creative merits, with NME giving it a four-star review. It is a “technicolour, sprawling ode to a long-gone, old New York City,” highlighting the band’s unique sound and style. The band’s performance on SNL was an exciting moment for fans, who have been eagerly awaiting their return to the show.
In other recent news, Vampire Weekend gave a stellar performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, where they covered Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Unfortunately, this was also the band’s first show without bassist Chris Baio, who was unable to perform due to illness. The 46th season of Saturday Night Live will end next week, with actor Jake Gyllenhaal hosting for the third time, with Sabrina Carpenter as the musical guest. Gyllenhaal has previously led episodes in 2007 and 2022.
Rudolph’s sketch parodying Beyoncé taking on the Hot Ones challenge was also well-received by SNL viewers. Vampire Weekend is set to embark on their 2024 UK and Ireland tour later this year, and fans eagerly await their return to the stage.
