Vampire Weekend Performs Twiddle Cover in Vermont

Vampire Weekend made a stop in Essex Junction, Vermont, during their 2025 tour at the Champlain Valley Expo. The band continued their tradition of allowing the audience to request covers during the encore, a practice they started during the Father Of The Bride Tour. Frontman Ezra Koenig explained to the crowd that they used to take requests for Vampire Weekend songs, but switched to covers to challenge themselves.

The band kicked off the cover request segment with a snippet of Paul Simon’s “Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes” before transitioning to “Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard” when Koenig realized his mistake. They then attempted Fun.’s “We Are Young,” encouraging the audience to chime in during the chorus.

One particular request caught their attention when someone in the crowd asked for Twiddle’s “Jamflowman.” Although drummer Chris Tomson nailed the beat and Koenig sang a few lines, the attempt fell short. Koenig acknowledged the need to fine-tune their rendition, acknowledging Twiddle frontman Mihali in the process.

Ezra’s familiarity with “Jamflowman” extended back to 2019 when he featured the song on his internet radio show, Time Crisis. Notably, Twiddle opened for Vampire Weekend during a series of shows the following August.

Throughout the night, Vampire Weekend also tried their hand at covers of System Of A Down’s “Chop Suey!,” Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer,” Evanescence’s “Bring Me To Life,” and the Grateful Dead’s “Fire On The Mountain.” The band wrapped up the cover request segment with snippets of The Police’s “Walking On The Moon,” the Eagles’ “Take It Easy,” AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” and Marty Robbins’ “El Paso.” They closed out the evening with a rousing rendition of “Walcott.”

The performance showcased the band’s versatility and willingness to engage with the audience through requests and cover songs. Despite a few stumbles, Vampire Weekend’s enthusiasm and musicality shone through, delighting the crowd in Vermont. Attendees were treated to a one-of-a-kind experience as the band tackled a diverse selection of songs, demonstrating their range and adaptability. The cover request segment added an element of surprise and spontaneity to the show, highlighting the band’s ability to connect with their fans in a unique and interactive way.