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Vampire Weekend first jumped into our faces back in the beginning of 2008, sporting a massive grin with the release of their self-titled, debut album. Since then they have gathered a myriad of fans the world over with their catchy, retro-pop-inspired melodies and contagious charm.

The New-York-indie-rockers have been in the country promoting their brand new album Contra (due out in January next year). Last night a lucky few Triple J listeners got the chance to see the lads in action at Notes on Enmore (formerly Notes Live) for a special live recording for Triple J TV on the ABC.

This was my first time at Notes on Enmore and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by the venue. It's much larger than some city-based venues like Spectrum and the Oxford Art Factory and is better-designed for sound.

Much in the same way that they made their splash onto the scene back in 2008, Vampire Weekend hit the stage with vibrant animation and infectious glee. The band showcased a selection of tracks from their new album, including Horchata and the brand newie Cousins (which has a very cool video), along with crowd favourites from their debut release.

Those familiar with the sound of Vampire Weekend would be well aware that there are next to no "relaxed moments" in their music. Their recordings are continuously and unceasingly vibrant and their live performance is no different. The band has a sustainable intensity that on paper would seem like too much for an audience to take in all at once... and yet I was okay with the lack of relaxed musical interlude - this is not something that all bands can pull off. Highlights from the set included the ode to New York bus route M79, the almost psychotically energetic A-Punk and the traditional set-closer Walcott.

If you could some up Vampire Weekend in one short word, it would be "fun". The band exudes seemingly limitless energy and are masters of audience participation. They will remove the guard of your dignity and you'll find yourself almost uncontrollably shaking your tush in the midst of the crowd.

Keep your eyes peeled for the gig in the near future on the ABC and as part of Triple J TV.

Youngie d - _ - b
SMP