Although I was at shows both Sunday and Monday, I chose not to write about them. Part of it was burnout, part of it was stress, part of it was my current workload being next to unbearable and just not having the time, but, most of all, it was because I wanted to remember the thrill I find in live music. It’s not that it ever left, but having to document shows night after night has put me in a bit of a haze. I needed to see a couple of shows through clear eyes before plunging back into the reviewing world, and I think it did the trick because the second I stepped foot into The Armory on Tuesday night, I felt that thrill. I felt the excitement and anticipation of a live concert, and as it was happening, I felt the magic that got me into this whole business in the first place.
Ra Ra Riot was the one and only opening band on Tuesday night. Although they started their set about fifteen minutes later than planned, they made up for the delay with their undeniable sense of passion and their flawless sound. Although I have been listening to this band for years, I honestly don’t recall ever seeing them live, and based on their performance on Tuesday, this was not a set I would have forgotten. Sure, the band didn’t really do much when they were up there other than standing there and performing, but their sound was genuinely record-ready. Hearing vocalist Wes Miles hit the notes that have always brought me chills when listening to their music was like an out-of-body experience. I mean, really, this whole band sounded so great and so tight, but it was those vocals that made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up.
Ra Ra Riot got their start around 2006, and I feel like this band just never got the spotlight they deserved. Truthfully, I was a bit surprised to see their name as the supporting act for the mega superstar band that was headlining, but it made sense after Wes explained it all. It turns out Wes Miles grew up with the singer of the headlining act. He talked about growing up with this now-famous singer and how amazing it is that, after all of these years, they are still playing music together (albeit in separate bands). There was something super charming about this small moment in Ra Ra Riot’s set. Music is a family. You meet your family through the music you play or listen to, and this small reminder that I’m not the only one who feels this way added a unique sense of emotion to Tuesday night.
Although I was super excited and honored to cross Ra Ra Riot off of my bucket list on Tuesday night, they were not the reason for the sold-out show. The reason for that was Vampire Weekend. Since 2006, Vampire Weekend has been putting out their exciting and creative indie-pop songs and making waves everywhere they go. I know that, as a music reviewer, I can always find something innovative in music or pick up on a super subtle element that maybe others don’t hear at first listen, but what makes Vampire Weekend stand out is the fact that you can hear those subtle intricacies on first listen with this band and, every time I hear a Vampire Weekend song, it gets me super excited about music again. Much like the thrill of seeing Ra Ra Riot on stage, being able to witness and hear the genius of Vampire Weekend on a Tuesday night was amazing.
Vampire Weekend powered through an extensive twenty-two-song set before diving into an eleven-song encore. The first set consisted of songs spanning the entirety of this band’s career. Vampire Weekend has five full-length albums out there, and each one comes with a sprinkle of can’t-miss hits and absolutely infectious bangers. I loved the fact that, although Tuesday night’s show was in support of the group’s newest album, ‘Only God Was Above Us,’ the band played through stuff dating all the way back to the debut 2008 self-titled album. The highlights for me were obviously the songs I recognized, like “A-Punk” and “This Life,” but, really, there wasn’t a single dud throughout their first set.
The second portion of Vampire Weekend’s time on stage on Tuesday night was filled with covers. At many shows, it’s the cover songs that really get the audience singing and dancing. But with Vampire Weekend, this was not the case. What struck me was the audience’s engagement with the band’s original tracks. They sang along and danced with the same fervor as they did to the covers. This, to me, was a testament to the true, lasting power and talent of this band.
Tuesday marks night one of a two-night stint of this touring being hosted at The Armory. I have the absolute honor of going back for night two and, if you read this in time, highly suggest you snag a ticket and meet me there!
