Ezra Koenig is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and lyricist of the New York City-based band Vampire Weekend. Between VW's applauded Lollapalooza performance in Chicago and a sold-out show at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Minneapolis, Ezra stopped by our studios to record a Theft of the Dial with The Current's Morning Show host Jill Riley.

The Vampire Weekend frontman has a connection to each of his playlist picks. HAIM, who have received well-deserved attention as of late, has been a favorite of Ezra's since first seeing the sister act perform in small NYC venues, up-and-coming songstress Sky Ferreira will be opening for Vampire Weekend on their next leg of tours, and thanks to re-watching The Sopranos, Ezra had the chance to revisit the show's eclectic soundtrack including the Nick Lowe tune "The Beast in Me."

Listen to the full Theft of the Dial to hear Ezra talk about what MTV meant to him during the channel's golden years, the lesson Vampire Weekend learned from fellow NYC band Grizzly Bear, and the group's connection to Steve Buscemi.

Playlist

Vampire Weekend - "Diane Young"
Haim - "The Wire"
Nick Lowe - "The Beast in Me"
Sky Ferreira - "Sad Dream"
The Only Ones - "Another Girl, Another Planet"
Vampire Weekend - "Everlasting Arms"

Videos

Vampire Weekend - "Everlasting Arms"

Modern Vampires of the City is out now on XL Recordings.

Related

• Vampire Weekend live at SXSW
• Album Review: Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City