Mike Gordon Joins Vampire Weekend For Stirring Duet In British Columbia

Mike Gordon played his third of five shows opening for Vampire Weekend last night in Burnaby, British Columbia. The Phish bassist made his first guest appearance of the run when he came out during Vampire Weekend’s set at Deer Lake Park to perform their song “Rich Man” with the band.

Vampire Weekend released “Rich Man” on their 2019 studio album, Father Of The Bride. Frontman Ezra Koenig shares writing credit on the song with S.E. Rogie as “Rich Man” heavily samples the Sierra Leonean “palm wine” musician’s “Please Go Easy With Me.” Last night marked the tour debut of “Rich Man.”

Mike Gordon kicked off the concert on Tuesday at Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park with a set from his solo band. Gordon is joined in the group by keyboardist Robert Walter, guitarist Scott Murawski, drummer John Morgan Kimock and percussionist Craig Myers. The five-piece — featuring keyboardist Rachel Eckroth subbing for Walter — debuted a cover of Vampire Weekend's “Rich Man” at Chicago’s Thalia Hall on June 25, 2023 and played the song a second time a few days later in Pittsburgh.

Vampire Weekend are currently touring in support of their recently released follow-up to Father Of The Bride, Only God Was Above Us. Ezra Koenig and his bandmates performed eight of the 10 songs featured on the new album last night in Burnaby.

Mike Gordon emerged towards the middle of the headliner’s main set. Gordon and Koenig dueted in sharing lead vocals on “Rich Man.” Vampire Weekend bassist Chris Baio and Mike Gordon both played bass on the tune.

Watch a fan-shot clip featuring the start of Vampire Weekend and Mike Gordon’s “Rich Man” collaboration:

Vampire Weekend performed songs from each of their five studio albums at Deer Lake Park including “Mansard Roof,” “Campus,” “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa,” “Oxford Comma” and “A-Pink” from the band’s self-titled 2008 debut LP. Father Of The Bride was also represented by “Harmony Hall,” “Sympathy” and “This Life,” while “Diane Young,” “Worship You” and “Ya Hey” off 2013’s Modern Vampires Of The City as well as Contra (2010) cuts “Cousins” and “White Sky” made the setlist too.

As reported, Vampire Weekend has been devoting the bulk of each encore to attempting covers requested by fans. Partial versions of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” Arctic Monkey’s “Do I Wanna Know?,” “Dancing In The Dark” by Bruce Springsteen, The Specials’ “A Message To You Rudy,” ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” AC/DC’s “Back In Black” and the Grateful Dead classic “Uncle John’s Band” were performed during last night’s encore.

Mike Gordon’s time on the road supporting Vampire Weekend ends with concerts in Bend, Oregon tonight, Wednesday, June 19 and at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena tomorrow, Thursday, June 20.