See Vampire Weekend Play ‘This Land Is Your Land’ at Bernie Sanders Rally in Iowa

Vampire Weekend stumped for Bernie Sanders at the presidential hopeful’s “Students for Bernie” rally at the University of Iowa last night (Jan. 30) ahead of the Iowa Caucus on Monday.

The performance marked the indie-rockers’ first live gig in two years. It was also their first without Rostam Batmanglij; he announced his departure from the band just last week. In his place, frontman Ezra Koenig and drummer Chris Thompson were accompanied by Dirty Projectors’ Dave Longstreth, comedic team the Lucas Bros and the Univeristy of Iowa all-women a capella group the Hawkapellas.

Together, they opened for Sanders with “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” from the band's 2008 self-titled debut and “Unbelievers” from 2013’s Modern Vampires in the City. After the Vermont senator’s speech, Vampire Weekend returned to the stage for a “This Land Is Your Land” singalong that included Sanders himself. (No doubt a well-placed tip of the hat to Sanders’ 1987 folk album.) In the video at the top, you can see the band’s first set at the 46:15 mark and “This Land Is Your Land” at 1:24:00.

Foster the People also performed at the rally. Sanders’ de facto campaign hand Killer Mike was slated to appear, but he had to cancel due to a family emergency.