Vampire Weekend, Run The Jewels and Foster The People are all feeling the Bern, as the three groups are prepared to play at Bernie Sander's Iowa rally on Saturday (Jan. 30), just days before Monday's caucus.
The event will take place at the University of Iowa Field House on Saturday, according to Consequence of Sound, and marks Vampire Weekend's first live performance since August 2014 as well as the band's first without Rostam Batmanglij as a permanent band member, following the announcement of his departure this week. Batmanglij has said he would still contribute to the band's studio efforts in limited capacity, but for all intents and purposes, he's no longer with the band.
Vampire Weekend has since confirmed it will feature a lineup of drummer Chris Thompson, Dirty Projectors' Dave Longstreth and the University of Iowa Hawkapellas a capella group alongside frontman Ezra Koenig. While that's not exactly the actual band, Koenig said on Twitter with a winky face that Sanders can call them Vampire Weekend if he wants.
The band is also teasing an after-rally performance outside the main venue. This is the real advantage Iowans want as the first primary deciding state.
performance will be me, CT, Dave Longstreth, @lucasbros & the U of Iowa Hawkapellas - Bernie can call that Vampire Weekend if he likes
— Ezra Koenig (@arzE) January 27, 2016
also, we are def gonna try and figure out a place to go talk & play some VW and Dirty Projectors songs in Iowa City outside the main event — Ezra Koenig (@arzE) January 27, 2016
As for Run The Jewels’ Killer Mike and El-P, this is just another in a long string of performances from the gangster rap duo. Killer Mike has been supporting Sanders from day one, using as much of his influence as he can give to back the Democratic Party candidate. Mike has performed at previous rallies, interviewed Sanders in one of the rappers beloved barber shops, spoken to the media following democratic debates and taken to talk shows to espouse his admiration and respect for the candidate. The guy is a bonafide Bernie believer and as long as he’s still in the presidential race, you can be sure to see Killer Mike by his side.
