Vampire Weekend is an indie rock band which formed in February 2006 in New York City, New York, United States. The band consists of Ezra Koenig (vocals, guitar), Rostam Batmanglij (keyboards, guitar, vocals), Chris Baio (bass) and Christopher Tomson (drums). The band has released three albums: “Vampire Weekend” (2008), “Contra” (2010)”, and “Modern Vampires of the City” (2013). The band has gained positive comparisons to such artists as Paul Simon, Haircut 100 and The Walkmen.

Vampire Weekend received much buzz from local blogs throughout 2007 during their rise to a record deal with indie label XL Recordings. Rolling Stone placed Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa at number 57 for the top 100 songs of 2007. The band’s debut album, “Vampire Weekend” was released on January 28. 2008. It was surprise success, peaking at #17 on the Billboard 200.

Their second album “Contra” was released on January 12, 2010. It contains the single “Cousins”. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, only the 12th independently released and distributed album to achieve such a feat. They are self-proclaimed “specialists in the following styles: ‘Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa’, ‘Upper West Side Soweto’, ‘Campus’, and ‘Oxford Comma Riddim’”. The name Vampire Weekend comes from a movie that Ezra Koenig made in the summer of his freshman year at college.