There's something terribly old school hall about the Bristol Anson Rooms. Perhaps playing a 'University' venue appeals to a band whose songs of US campus life have had such resonance with a British student life. However, in order to get a half decent sound you need a sound mixer with a super ear, and whoever was on the decks for Vampire Weekend just didn't have it.

One of the pleasures of the eponymous debut is that drum and bass sound and just moves the whole thing along, allowing for Ezra Koenig's distinctive fretwork and lyrical flights of fancy to charm and captivate. However, the venue's effect on their sound is akin to putting a dustbin over your head and the drums and bass merge into an unholy racket, which isn't helped by technical glitches that occur throughout the set.

There's even a run through of some new material which hints at a new electronic direction, although it was impossible to judge how this fared due to the dismal sound quality.

The quality of the songs and the enthusiasm of the crowd makes up for much, but I'm left with the impression that Bristol hasn't seen the best of Vampire Weekend, not by a long shot.