Interview: Chris Baio of Vampire Weekend

Chris Baio is the one who doesn't look like Cha-Chi, also known as the one on the far left.

A debut album, well-received. Stellar reviews. A world tour. The cover of Spin and a night as musical guest on Saturday Night Live. Outside of a couple hundred comparisons to Paul Simon's Graceland, the four Columbia University grads who make up Vampire Weekend have lived through quite a year.

On the rare day off, just before their biggest New York date thus far at Central Park Summerstage and at a relatively ungodly hour for rock 'n' roll endeavors, bassist Chris Baio helps us with the Vampire Weekend year in review.

Is it possible to have fun during a 9:30 a.m. interview? I mean, I guess it's good that you didn't play last night.
Yeah, I'm having a great time.

(much laughter)
I got up, got some coffee, bought some grapes. I'm doing good right now.

I'm sure that you've got the greatest job in the world and every part is all kinds of wonderful and terrific, but you've given a lot of interviews over the past several months.
Yeah. And, you know, I'm always more comfortable playing our music than talking about it or whatever.

So you took one for the team. I'm sure the rest of the band is very appreciative snuggled in their warm beds while you're up having coffee and giving an interview before ten o'clock.
(laughs) Yeah.

It seems like you guys are constantly on the road. Where are you now?
Right now I'm in my apartment in Greenpoint. We got home two days ago from like a five-week tour and we're going down to Florida in another two days for a short tour and Bonnaroo.

And then you're back here on the 14th.
Yeah, for the Summerstage show.

Is that a big deal?
Yeah, definitely. I mean, it's always fun to play New York and, you know, have all our family and friends come out. At this point there's a lot of places we've been where we played to bigger crowds than our hometown or whatever, so to play like our biggest show yet at home in the summer in a place where some of us have gone to see shows, it's definitely a big deal for us.

Speaking of big crowds, what's the last show the band's played that wasn't sold out?
Italy. Last week.

Last week? Well, I'm glad I didn't give you much time to get all cocky.
I know (laughs).