Vampire Weekend are a New York band. They famously formed while studying at Columbia University, they named one of the best songs on their 2008 debut after a crosstown bus line and their lyrics are filled with references to life in and around Manhattan. Though Ezra Koenig relocated to Los Angeles some time ago, the new Vampire Weekend video for Sunflower suggests he left his heart on the Upper West Side.
In the video, directed by Jonah Hill, Koenig and guitarist Steve Lacy visit two of Manhattans most hallowed temples of Ashkenazi Jewish food, located blocks away from each other in the West Eighties. One minute Koenig is working behind the iconic smoked fish counter at Zabars, the next hes stopping by sturgeon king Barney Greengrass place for brunch. At one point theres a cameo from Jerry Seinfeld, who Im sure knows his way around a platter of nova. Early-Eighties NYC hip-hop O.G. Fab 5 Freddy is in there, too. Its unclear what any of this has to do with the song Sunflower a light, catchy romp featuring some sweet riffs from Lacy, as well as Koenigs spirited efforts to shoobie-doo-wop right along with those riffs but it looks delicious.
Sunflower will appear on Vampire Weekends fourth album, Father of the Bride, due out on May 3rd. The band will embark on a major summer tour after that, leading up to some of their biggest shows ever, including headlining spots at New Yorks Madison Square Garden on September 6th and Denvers Red Rocks on October 8th.