Vampire Weekend, selling out venues in the UK and America, have just released a new video, directed by the Malloy Brothers, for another song off their sophomore album, ‘Contra’. Here is the promo for ‘Giving Up the Gun’, which features the band’s mate Jenny (who you may recognise as the goth in the ‘Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa’ video), actor Jake Gyllenhaal, Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers, and RZA and Lil Jon of Wu-Tang Clan. And as we’ve come to expect from Vampire Weekend, it’s a highly entertaining video, inspired by frontman Ezra Koenig’s idea of having their friend Jenny play tennis against a samurai. Watch and enjoy.

Vampire Weekend’s second album, ‘Contra’, is available now.

I’m sure the same thing has crossed your mind before: does a band deserve – and indeed live up to – all its hype? It seems like yesterday I was listening to ‘Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa’ on Radio2’s Radcliffe/Maconie programme and wondering, “who is Vampire Weekend, and why is everyone going mental over them?” I didn’t stand a chance; it wasn’t long before I became a fan.

Many moons later, here we are, just days away from when the band is set to release Contra. They’ve already sold out 4 January dates in America and an entire 10-date UK tour in February including these dates we posted previously. And if that wasn’t enough, just yesterday they announced 24 more gigs aross North America for March and April. (If luck is on my side, I’ll be seeing them the day before Easter…)

In advance of the official release of Contra next week, they appeared on ‘Late Night with David Letterman’ last night to play ‘Cousins’. The yelping straight from the start and the guitars – somehow, they’re even more compelling live. The only thing missing are the bells that punctuate the ending – one can hope that they break these out for their live performances this year. And ladies, if you haven’t fallen for Ezra Koenig yet: just watch the video and be spellbound by his expressive eyebrows…I mean, voice!

‘Contra’, Vampire Weekend’s sophomore album, will be released on 11 January 2010 in the UK and can be preordered from Beggars Group or Amazon.

Here’s something intriguing we received in the TGTF office over the holidays – selected songs described as “slithers and interpretations” from Mexico’s Toy Selectah (aka Toy Hernandez). He’s been busy remixing and retooling tunes from artists as eclectic as Morrissey, Lil Wayne and Justice. But I have to admit that his most recent project took me by surprise: remixing the second baby of New York’s Vampire Weekend (pictured above), ‘Contra’, due out next week.

Being the total sucker for remixes that I am, the Toy Selectah remix of ‘Cousins’ that already hit Radio1 (being played on Annie Mac’s programme) had me at the get-go. Same goes for the other five remixes I was given to preview: ‘Horchata’, ‘White Sky’, ‘Taxi Cab’, ‘Run’, and ‘Diplomat’s Son’. Vampire Weekend’s songs are always happy sonic affairs to begin with, so anything that’s done to further their club appeal – or overall mass appeal even – is all right by me.

It seems like so long ago, but we first got a taste of ‘Horchata’ the first week of October 2009 on their official Web site and on Zane Lowe’s show. If I’m being honest, I was underwhelmed by the effort. The remixed version turns up the maracas and drums and injects much needed vitality to the original. ‘White Sky’, which debuted as a streaming track on the band’s MySpace on 16 December 2009, gets a relaxing massage from Toy Selectah and takes a chill pill. The jarring percussion in the original is toned down, allowing for frontman Ezra Koenig’s vocals to turn angelic. Beautiful. So if you’re able to score a copy of ‘Megamelt’ when you’re out there procuring ‘Contra’, consider yourself lucky…to be the proud owner of two of the hottest releases of early 2010.

Toy Selectah’s ‘Contra Megamelt’ will be given away free (while supplies last) with the purchase of Vampire Weekend’s ‘Contra’ at select indie retailers. ‘Contra’ will be released 11 January 2010 in the UK and 12 January in America.

Oh, Vampire Weekend. Those quirky, chirpy hipsters from New York City we all know and love are gearing up to release their second album, ‘Contra’, on XL Recordings in January 2010. And they’ve just released the video they filmed to go with the first single to be released from the new album.

Called ‘Cousins’, it’s a hoot. If you liked the immediacy of ‘A-Punk’, I have a feeling you’ll take a shine to this instantly. I myself caught the promo video, oh, like 5 times yesterday when it premiered on MTV America yesterday. As usual, Ezra Koenig and the gang have made a fun and frenetic video to go with the infectious tune. Check it out.

‘Cousins’ is available now from iTunes. The 7″ single (backed my ‘California English, pt. 2′) will drop on 15 December and can be pre-ordered at Beggars Group. ‘Contra’, Vampire Weekend’s sophomore album, will be released on 11 January 2010 in the UK and can be preordered from Beggars Group or Amazon.

Columbia University graduates Vampire Weekend have announced their first UK shows in support of their forthcoming second album, Contra.

Tickets go on sale for these dates on Friday morning (6th November) at 9am. Catch the guys at:

Sunday 7th February 2010 – Cambridge Corn Exchange
Monday 8th February 2010 – Manchester Apollo
Tuesday 9th February 2010 – Leeds O2 Academy
Wednesday 10th February 2010 – Birmingham O2 Academy
Friday 12th February 2010 – Newcastle O2 Academy
Tuesday 16th February 2010 – London O2 Brixton Academy

What do you get when you combine the best parts of Vampire Weekend and Ra Ra Riot? A Discovery.

The side project of RRR’s front man, Wes Miles and VW’s Rostam Batmanglij, it sees them take a more R&B electro approach to things,

MP3: Discovery – Orange Shirt
MP3: Discovery – Osaka Loop Line

(via Stereogum)

So it’s that time of year again, the NME awards are fast approaching, the tours almost over, this year Glasvegas and White Lies headlined to bring back post punk, supported by Friendly Fires and Florence. The tour seems to have gone down well, but now all eyes are on the awards, a short week away… I bring you who I think should win…

Best British Band -The Shadow Puppets were fun, but not exactly up to scratch for this award. Oasis are pretty strong contenders, the band put out a decent record and are set to go on an arena tour in the coming months, being NME favourites it’d be foolish to count them out. But if we’re looking at quality of music, then there’s only one band destined for this year award – Bloc Party (pictured top). Kele & co. have been in full force this year, touring and of course putting out the brilliant ‘Intimacy.’ Dancefloor-filling ‘Flux’ and ‘Mercury’ have also gone down a treat and the album itself has some epic tracks. In this category they clearly deserve success..

Best International Band – Main fight here no doubt is between Vampire Weekend (pictured right) and MGMT, though Kings of Leon put up a good fight too. Two brilliant new bands with sensational records and ace singles to match. The two seem inseparable, to choose one would be madness.. take our advice and go with the one your prefer, if you can’t choose (like I couldn’t), flip a coin and see where it takes you.. Oh and whatever you do – don’t vote Crystal Castles!!

Best Solo Artist -Chances are that this being the NME Pete has pretty much walked it. Aside from this though I don’t see the need to vote for anyone, Jay-Z puts in a good shout but the true winner – Kanye West – isn’t even up for nomination!! Something is seriously wrong with this category, it’s another flip, this time between Pete and Jay-Z..

Best New Band -Fucking hell.. this is impossible, every band is deserving and each one of them should be walking away with the title. Out of them all I may like Glavegas the least but they’re still awesome (though massively overhyped too). This ones a tie folks..

Best Live Band -I haven’t been to any of their shows so perhaps I’m not the best to talk you all through, but I have seen them all on BBC Three’s Reading highlights, (if that counts for anything). If I had to go with one band, based on just energy and explosiveness it’d have to be Kings of Leon. They deserve an award this year and their live show was (apparently) flawless.

Best Album -I notice I’ve been a little indecisive over the last couple of awards, but here I’m decided. Though the nominations aren’t great and are lacking some classics from last year (Clinic, Kanye (again!), The Metros, MGMT (if counted), Xiu Xiu etc. etc.)  Bloc Party are enticing us again as are Kings of Leon, and I know I said I’d decided, but I lied..

Find out the rest of my choices tomorrow morning at 11.

The NME awards are around the corner, if you want to have your say head on over to the nominations page and cast your votes now! Voting closes at 4pm tomorrow, 19th February.

Current indie scenesters Vampire Weekend have announced a full UK tour in October.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, 18th July, at 9am.

Monday 20th October – Birmingham Academy
Tuesday 21st October – Manchester Academy
Wednesday 22nd October – Sheffield Academy
Friday 24th and Saturday 25th October – London Forum
Tuesday 28th October – Newcastle Academy
Wednesday 29th October – Glasgow Barrowlands
Thursday 30th October – Liverpool Academy
Friday 31st October – Bristol Academy

Hopefully the first of a regular series of posts, Monday Movies aims to bring you a handful of recent music videos along with a blast from the past… enjoy!

Below: Hot Chip: One Pure Thought

Below: Vampire Weekend: Oxford Comma

Below: Stars: Bitches in Tokyo

Below: The Libertines: Don’t look back into the sun

New Yorkers Vampire Weekend have announced a string of dates for May ahead of going off on the festival circuit.

Tickets go on sale on Friday (29th February) at 9am.

Thursday 1st May – Bristol Bierkeller
Friday 2nd May – Birmingham Carling Academy 2
Saturday 3rd May – Edinburgh Liquid Rooms
Sunday 4th May – Glasgow Oran Mor
Tuesday 6th May – Newcastle Northumbria University
Wednesday 7th May – Leeds Cockpit
Thursday 8th May – Manchester University
Monday 12th May – Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
Tuesday 13th May – London Electric Ballroom