Ezra Furman performing in Liverpool (Gary Mather for Live4ever)
Ezra Furman has shared his cover version of Vampire Weekend‘s Unbelievers with a short run of UK shows due to start at the Newcastle Riverside tonight.
It’s one which he believes, despite Vampire Weekend’s own instincts, is at its heart a punk song. “With Ivy League cunning they realized there were more interesting and profitable directions to go with their music,” he’s said.
“But the punk instincts still shine through in many of their songs. I heard Unbelievers as a punk song almost immediately, adventurous production and orchestral touches notwithstanding. It takes one to know one. In the midst of our recent ambitious and inventive music, I started to get a strong urge to reconnect with my high-tempo voice shredding punk roots.”
“Covering this song was a perfect gateway from one to the other. Plus, no matter how deep in love I am with Judaism, there is a never-ending supply of religious alienation and rage in me. Felt good to spill some more of that out.”
Furman will play go on to play the End Of The Road festival this weekend and London’s Brixton Academy on September 4th.
