Unless you live in the middle of a cornfield, like me, you have probably already read and heard plenty about the Columbia boys and their afro-pop debut. However, some of us need to take a trip up to New York City and talk to unshaven insiders outside deafening music halls in order to keep a little wise to the latest raves of rock n roll. Thus, I (finally) came across my copy of Vampire Weekend.

It’s the middle of February and I feel refreshed and delighted. The record is worthy of all the praise and prominence it has received over the last month or two. I’ve had it for a few days and I have already burned a copy so I can keep it in my car and at my house, and then I have it on the ol’ iPod of course. This is a rare occurrence, and is usually fair warning that my girlfriend will be sick of the band in a month’s time. Alas, she is currently pumping her fist and digging up some old Paul Simon records to compare because as Julie said the other night, “Hey Vampire Weekend, Paul Simon called and wants his pleasantly-freaky-mojo back.”

So what’s the deal with these guys? What inside me and other music lovers makes this the new funky happy future-theme music to the summertime where we ride a sailboat or eat at proper restaurants more or even just stop caring that we may not look our best in flip flops, but they’re comfortable and we can still dance in them? One thing is for sure, it’s nice to see a rock band tuck in their shirts every once in a while. Another thing is that every now and then, listening to the record, I find myself researching a lyric on Wikipedia. The Khyber Pass? Ya, I’ve heard of it, but couldn’t remember from where — of course, a strategic military location dating back to the conquests of Alexander the Great — I can honestly say I’ve never used Wikipedia to research a lyric in a Strokes song, so they have that going for them.

I wonder though, with all the attention, will Duran Duran invite these boys onto their yacht? Will Paul Simon invite them to his swingers party in LA and make weird advances on their girlfriends? Will the drummer open a vegan juice bar in Brooklyn? You know what, I don’t wonder that, and I hope these fine musicians avoid the temptation to do things besides write music that makes me smile and drum on the countertop in my friend’s kitchen while he beats his all time high score in an old Sega Dreamcast game that we still play 10 years later. Why? Because they are a fine refreshment to a difficult day in the cornfield and need to carry on being something that keeps me talking to strangers in New York City trying to get tips on new bands that strangers have been listening to for a long time.

Jon Eaton plays guitar in The Spinto Band. Check them out on tour this winter, spring, and whenever else.
Spinto Band Site