Vampire Weekend Debut ‘The Sopranos’ Theme and More in Long-Awaited Return to New Jersey

Vampire Weekend, photo by Bill Kelly

Last night, Sept. 16, Vampire Weekend took the stage at Montclair, N.J.’s Wellmont Theater to continue a historic trip to the Garden State. In the midst of an exhaustive world tour that’s kept them on the road since May, the indie-rock vanguard’s return to their roots has met the monumental occasion by exceeding their high standards, and Tuesday’s performance maintained their momentum with a fistful of fresh covers and rarities.

On Monday, after touching down in the United States with a headline set at East Aurora, N.Y.’s Borderland Festival, Vampire Weekend rolled into Montclair for their long-awaited return to New Jersey, where frontman Ezra Koenig and drummer Chris Tomson grew up (in Glen Ridge and Imlaystown, respectively). Night one at the intimate Wellmont Theater arrived as the storied indie trio’s first performance in the state since a 2008 gig at the same venue, when the fresh-faced band was still touring their self-titled debut album.

Like the first show in their four-night stand, Vampire Weekend’s Tuesday performance began with an opening set from Sophisticuffs, Koenig’s band from Glen Ridge High School, also featuring Ra Ra Riot frontman Wes Miles. After the triumphant return of the long-dormant experimental rock outfit, VW stepped into the spotlight with “Diane Young,” then proceeded into a 22-track set lined with old favorites like “Holiday,” “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” “Step” “A-Punk” and “Harmony Hall,” as well as Only God Was Above Us standouts like “Ice Cream Piano,” “Classical,” “Gen-X Cops” and “Mary Boone.”

Apart from the hits and less common songs like “Bryn” and “Bambina,” Vampire Weekend’s set featured more than a few outright surprises. Contra outtake “Giant” and B-side “Taxicab” were both performed for the first time since 2019, the latter in response to a fan request. The band paid tribute to New Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen with a cover of “I’m Goin’ Down” at the set’s midpoint, following their first performance of the track this year on Monday. Partial covers continued into the encore with the trio’s debuts of the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive,” Dire Straits’ “Walk of Life,” New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle” and Alabama 3’s “Woke Up This Morning,” the theme from The Sopranos, landing among their second treatment of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” and revivals of The Rolling Stones’ “Beast of Burden” and The Four Seasons’ “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night).”

Vampire Weekend will return to the Wellmont Theater tonight and tomorrow before sets at Richmond, Va.’s Iron Blossom Music Festival and Atlanta’s Shaky Knees Festival on Sept. 20 and 21. Find tickets and more information on the band’s full live itinerary at vampireweekend.com.